The pilot of a light aircraft which crashed near Heathfield in East Sussex this morning has died, police said.
The aircraft is reported to have come down on open ground north of Heathfield at 11.01am.
Firefighters from multiple stations were called out just minutes later and extinguished a fire.
A statement from Sussex Police read: "The pilot of a light aircraft sadly died when his plane crashed near Heathfield on Tuesday morning.
"Emergency services were called to the scene off Herrings Lane at 11:01am where the aircraft had caught fire after crashing.
"Unfortunately, the pilot is believed to have died instantly. His next-of-kin have been advised.
"The matter has now been passed to the Air Accident Investigation Branch (AAIB) for investigation."
Earlier today, a spokesperson for Sussex Police said: "Emergency services are responding to a light plane that has crashed at Herring Lane, north of Heathfield.
"The aircraft was reported to have come down on open ground at 11.01am on Tuesday August 4.
"There are no further details at present."
A South East Coast Ambulance Service spokesperson said: "We are currently on scene of a light aircraft crash in Cross-in-Hand.
"We were called at 11am and sent a number of resources to the scene. We have no further update at this stage."
Herrings Lane is a country road running off the A26 through the village of Cross In Hand, north of Heathfield.
