The world’s largest aircraft has crashed during its second test flight since being revamped in the UK – damaging its cockpit.

The £25 million Airlander 10 – a 302ft-long part plane, part helicopter and part airship – was damaged after hitting a telegraph pole.

The incident happened at its base at Cardington Airfield, Bedfordshire, this morning.

It apparently went into a nosedive – and damage is reportedly “extensive”.

Photographs are emerging showing the aircraft on the ground with its nose pointing towards the floor.

Hybrid Air Vehicles, which is developing Airlander 10, issued a statement on Facebook which said: “We’re debriefing following the second test flight this morning.

“All crew are safe and well and there are no injuries.”

It was hailed a ‘great British innovation’ by its makers after it embarked on its successful maiden flight a week ago.

Seven days ago it was a picture as it loomed overhead at Cardington as the sun started to set on.

Photographers and plane spotters baked in the sun as they waited to see the aircraft, whose bulbous exterior has earned it the less-than-glamorous nickname “the flying bum”, take off.

Crowds clapped and cheered as the craft soared above them during its first outing from the First World War hangar where it was revealed in March after undergoing “hundreds” of changes by Hybrid Air Vehicles (HAV) over two years.

First developed for the US government as a long-endurance surveillance aircraft, the British firm launched a campaign to return the craft to the sky after it fell foul of defence cutbacks.

HAV chief executive officer Stephen McGlennan said the team had been waiting for low winds for the launch but added the airship could “operate very happily” in 80 knots of wind.

He said: “Think of a big helicopter, a really giant helicopter. This can do the same thing that a helicopter can do – that’s to say, provide air transportation for people and goods without the need for a runway – but this thing can take more over longer distances, it’s cheaper and it’s greener.

“It’s a great British innovation. It’s a combination of an aircraft that has parts of normal fixed wing air craft, it’s got helicopter, it’s got airship.” (Daily Mirror)

•Photo shows the Airlander 10 after crashing during its second test flight.

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