A PILOT and passenger are today lucky to be alive after their single-engine plane was forced to make an emergency landing.

Riz Islam has been hailed a hero after taking over the controls from his pupil when their Piper Arrow four-seater started leaking oil from the engine.

They were flying at about 2,000ft, between Shoreham and Lydd Airport, near Rye, when the leak was spotted.

Realising Riz and his pupil, Steve Windsor, were in danger, air traffic controllers advised an emergency landing as soon as possible.

Riz, from East Grinstead, took over the controls from Steve, from Haywards Heath, and managed to bring the plane down safely in a field at Romney Marsh, Camber, less than 1,000 yards from the packed Camber Sands holiday village.

Amazingly, both men escaped uninjured and were flown back to Shoreham by the Sussex Police helicopter.

Riz works for Shoreham-based Sky Leisure Aviation, which hires out planes for short journeys and instruction.

He has been an instructor for nearly 15 years and police at Shoreham say he is extremely experienced.

Sgt John Tickner said: "I have no doubt that when the emergency arose he reacted calmly and did everything right. He behaved exactly as I would expect him to do.

"Incidents like this are very rare and companies like Sky Leisure make sure all their pilots know exactly how to cope."

Robin Gordon, managing director at Lydd Airport, said: "The pilot was very calm and did everything correctly. Both people inside were very lucky.

"The situation could have been a lot worse but the reactions of everybody were very good and the situation was dealt with quickly and professionally."

Two fire crews from Rye, one each from Battle and Lydd, the foam tender from Newhaven, an ambulance crew from Rye and the Sussex Police helicopter were called to the scene on standby.

The Air Accident Investigation Unit has been informed and an investigation is expected to start today.

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