Pilot of crashed plane on the motorway was taking flying lessons

The pilot of the aircraft that crashed on Wednesday on the A58 highway near Ruchpen in Noord-Brabant was taking flying lessons. Breda Airport reported this in a statement. The pilot ended up on the road with the training plane and died. Director of Breda Airport Jan Voeten did not share any further information about the identity of the deceased man.

"It is with great sadness that we have to confirm today the death of a pilot as a result of a tragic accident near our airport," Voeten wrote in a statement. In the message, Voeten says he does not want to "speculate on the circumstances of the accident." Breda Airport "naturally fully cooperates with the investigations that have been initiated." The airport will be closed for the rest of the day.

According to the initial findings of the Dutch Safety Board (OVV), the aircraft departed from Breda Airport, also known as Seppe, in a single-engine plane. The OVV spokesperson called it "a miracle of miracles" that there were no more victims, but "it remains very tragic for the pilot."

The plane belongs to Vliegschool Breda Aviation, the company itself reported a few hours after the accident. "The grief and disbelief are indescribable," the company said. "The despondency is great." The flight school, which, in addition to training and trial lessons, also rents out planes near Breda, will remain closed for the coming days and cannot be reached for further comment.

Both the flight school and Breda Airport are thinking "of the wife, family, and relatives" and "all the people who witnessed the accident." The Safety Region of Central and West Brabant has already announced that it is offering victim support to anyone who may need it.