Light Aircraft Crashes At Royal Birkdale

Merseyside Police have confirmed that a microlight aircraft came down on the historic golf course

(Image credit: Getty Images)

Merseyside Police have confirmed that a microlight aircraft came down on the historic golf course

Light Aircraft Crashes At Royal Birkdale

Merseyside Police have confirmed that a microlight aircraft has crashed at Royal Birkdale Golf Club.

The plane came down at around 7pm according to the police, who confirmed that it caused a fire upon impact.

It is unknown how many people were on board and whether there were any injuries.

A spokesman for Merseyside Police said: "We can confirm we are tonight, Thursday, 11 April, dealing with an incident in Birkdale.

Related: Plane crashes on Japan golf course

"At around 7pm this evening emergency services were called to the Royal Birkdale Golf Course following reports a microlight aircraft had crashed.

"Merseyside Fire and Rescue are at the scene distinguishing the fire caused when the aircraft hit the ground. Ambulance crew are also in attendance.

"Road closures are in place on the Coastal Road including Shore Road and Weld Road and we advise motorists to avoid the area."

This is a breaking news story, check back for further updates.

Related: 2019 US Masters Microsite Homepage

Royal Birkdale Golf Club has hosted the Open Championship on 10 occasions, most recently in 2016 when Jordan Spieth lifted the Claret Jug.

The Merseyside links course ranks 6th in our UK and Ireland Top 100 Course rankings, making it Golf Monthly's highest-ranked English course.


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Elliott Heath
News Editor

Elliott Heath is our News Editor and has been with Golf Monthly since early 2016 after graduating with a degree in Sports Journalism. He manages the Golf Monthly news team as well as our large Facebook, Twitter and Instagram pages. He covered the 2022 Masters from Augusta National as well as five Open Championships on-site including the 150th at St Andrews. His first Open was in 2017 at Royal Birkdale, when he walked inside the ropes with Jordan Spieth during the Texan's memorable Claret Jug triumph. He has played 35 of our Top 100 golf courses, with his favourites being both Sunningdales, Woodhall Spa, Western Gailes, Old Head and Turnberry. He has been obsessed with the sport since the age of 8 and currently plays off of a six handicap. His golfing highlights are making albatross on the 9th hole on the Hotchkin Course at Woodhall Spa, shooting an under-par round, playing in the Aramco Team Series on the Ladies European Tour and making his one and only hole-in-one at the age of 15 - a long time ago now!


Elliott is currently playing:


Driver: Titleist TSR4

3 wood: Titleist TSi2

Hybrids: Titleist 816 H1

Irons: Mizuno MP5 5-PW

Wedges: Cleveland RTX ZipCore 50, 54, 58

Putter: Odyssey White Hot OG #5

Ball: Srixon Z Star XV