An 81-year-old motor glider pilot from Szczecin died when his machine crashed not far from the airfield in the district of Szczecin Dąbie, north west Poland.

Rescuers were alerted by a motorist who said he noticed that the motor glider had been flying “erratically”, then disappeared among trees.

An ambulance crew located the downed glider but attempts to resuscitate the pilot failed. An investigation is underway into the causes of the accident. (ek)