A light aircraft crash near Loch Lomond on Friday, October 16, 2026, killed two people: a 16-year-old boy and an 80-year-old man, leading the operating flight school, Leading Edge Flight Training, to state they were “devastated” by the loss. The incident has initiated an investigation by the Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) into the circumstances of the crash, which occurred north-east of Drymen, Stirling.

This tragic event highlights the serious nature of light aircraft accidents and the work of accident investigators in understanding such incidents. The findings from this investigation may contribute to aviation safety protocols and offer clarity to those affected.

What the Records Show

Leading Edge Flight Training, based in Renfrew, issued a public statement following the accident. The flight school stated it was “devastated by this tragic accident involving one of our aircraft and two close members of our Leading Edge family”. The company also extended “thoughts and deepest sympathies... to the families, friends and loved ones of those who lost their lives”. The aircraft involved, a Piper Tomahawk II, was registered to Leading Edge Flight Training. It was reportedly purchased recently from the Liverpool Flight School in Merseyside. Leading Edge Flight Training confirmed it is assisting with the investigation.

Emergency services responded to the crash site north-east of Drymen, Stirling, at about 4:45 PM on Friday, October 16, 2026. A 16-year-old boy and an 80-year-old man were pronounced dead at the scene, and their next of kin were informed. STV News reported the pilot was flight instructor Ian Haggis, who was 80 years old. The 16-year-old boy was thought to be a student on a flying lesson.

The Timeline

The Piper Tomahawk II aircraft departed from Glasgow Airport at 4:17 PM on Friday. Flight-tracking data showed the plane circled before its transponder stopped transmitting at 4:37 PM, approximately 20 minutes after takeoff. The Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) was informed and began an investigation into the accident, which occurred on October 16, 2026. An AAIB team traveled to the crash site near Drymen to gather evidence and make inquiries.

What Changed and for Whom

Police Scotland has put temporary airspace restrictions in place, including a ban on drones, around the Drymen area to support the ongoing investigation. Police warned that flying in the restricted airspace constitutes a criminal offense. Gavin Birch-Williams, managing director of Glasgow Airport, recognized the incident, stating, “This is a deeply tragic event, and the thoughts and heartfelt sympathies from all at Glasgow Airport are with the friends and families affected”. The families and friends of the deceased face the loss of their loved ones. The flight school itself stated its devastation over the loss of two members of its “family”.

What we could not confirm

We could not confirm the exact cause of the crash. The identities of the 16-year-old boy or specific details about his relationship to the flight school, beyond being a suspected student pilot, could not be confirmed. The timeline for the conclusion of the AAIB investigation or the release of a preliminary report was not available. The specific details of the flight plan or why the aircraft was circling before the crash were not available in the evidence provided.