Two people escaped after a microlight crashed into Lake Bütgenbach in eastern Belgium on Friday evening, leaving the aircraft at the bottom of the lake and its cause still unknown. The two-seat ULM had taken off from Büllingen airfield before going down shortly before 19:00 near the Berger Strand and Worriken leisure area.
The 71-year-old pilot and 20-year-old passenger got out before the aircraft sank. The passenger reached a buoy, while a fisherman rescued the pilot from the water. Both were taken to hospital by helicopter or ambulance; the passenger was discharged that evening and the pilot was expected to leave hospital on Saturday.
Witnesses reported the aircraft flying low over the lake before turning left and striking the water. Recovery of the wreckage was planned for the following week after bad light prevented immediate salvage work. A floating barrier was deployed near the Robertville dam as a precaution, with no immediate environmental risk reported because the fuel tank was only lightly filled.