A vintage World War Two fighter plane crashed on the 5,000 acre country estate owned by Foxtons’ founder, Jon Hunt, last week.

The single seat Grumman General Motors Wildcat flipped over as it landed on a grass airstrip in the grounds of Heveningham Hall near Halesworth, Suffolk.

The pilot was airlifted to Ipswich Hospital by the Essex and Hertfordshire Air Ambulance after the crash at around 5.10pm on Thursday.

Police initially said he suffered serious injuries which were not thought to be life threatening, but it is believed he has now left hospital.

The aircraft was restored in 2022 after being acquired by businessman and engineer Tom Harris, 60, of Leighton Buzzard, Bedfordshire.

The accident happened as the Wildcat was being flown in to the estate to take part in an annual country fair and Concours event this weekend featuring 50 cars and a dozen historic aircraft.

The Grumman Wildcat was an American carrier-based fighter that entered service in 1940 with the United States Navy, and the British Royal Navy where it was initially known as the Martlet.

Suffolk Fire and Rescue Service sent ten fire crews to the scene and cordoned off an area around the crash site which was visible from a nearby public road.

A fire appliance was also seen outside the main entrance of Grade One 18th century Heveningham Hall, which was purchased by Hunt in 1994 after it was on the market for three years.

Hunt went on to landscape the grounds of the estate with lakes, following plans originally drawn up by Capability Brown.

He has since bought up several country houses and farmhouses in the area which he has converted into the Wilderness Reserve, an up-market holiday retreat which is popular with celebrity guests.

Hunt was said to be worth £1.448bn on this year’s Sunday Times Rich List.

A Suffolk Police spokesperson said: “At this stage it is believed the pilot was attempting to land the plane at the time of the incident.

“An area of Heveningham Hall has been cordoned off while officers deal with the incident. The Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) has been informed and will be investigating the incident.”