A 16-year-old boy and an 80-year-old man have died following a light aircraft crash near Drymen in Stirlingshire. Air accident investigators have begun examining the circumstances, while temporary airspace restrictions, including restrictions on drones, remain in place.
The Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) has launched a safety investigation following a fatal light aircraft crash near Loch Lomond on Friday, 16 October 2026, which claimed the lives of a teenage boy and an elderly man.
Police Scotland confirmed that officers received a report of an aircraft crash north-east of Drymen, near the eastern shore of Loch Lomond, at approximately 4.45pm.
Emergency services attended the scene, where a 16-year-old boy and an 80-year-old man were pronounced dead. Police confirmed that their next of kin had been informed.
The circumstances leading to the crash have not been established, and investigators have not released findings concerning its cause.
Air Accident Investigators Deployed to Stirling
On Saturday, 17 October, the Air Accidents Investigation Branch confirmed that an investigation had begun and that specialist personnel had travelled to the crash site.
The branch stated that its team had been sent to make enquiries and gather evidence as part of a safety investigation.
The AAIB is responsible for independently investigating civil aviation accidents and serious incidents in the United Kingdom.
Its investigations examine the circumstances of accidents, identify possible contributing factors and determine whether safety recommendations are necessary to prevent similar occurrences.
The process can involve examination of aircraft wreckage, maintenance and operational records, flight information and witness evidence, depending on the circumstances of the particular accident.
The AAIB’s purpose is to improve aviation safety rather than determine criminal responsibility or apportion blame.
The branch has not yet published technical findings from the Drymen crash.
Temporary Airspace Restrictions Introduced
Police Scotland confirmed that temporary restrictions were imposed on airspace around Drymen following the accident.
The restrictions include drone operations and are expected to remain in place for some time while investigators carry out their work.
Police have warned pilots and drone operators to check whether flying is permitted in the area before launching an aircraft.
Operating within restricted airspace without the necessary authorisation is a criminal offence.
The measures are intended to protect the investigation and prevent unauthorised aircraft from interfering with operations around the crash site.
Cause of Crash Remains Unknown
The crash occurred in the countryside north-east of Drymen, a village in the Stirling council area close to Loch Lomond and The Trossachs National Park.
Police Scotland’s published statement confirms the deaths, location, approximate reporting time and involvement of the AAIB.
It does not identify the two people who died, establish who was controlling the aircraft or provide an explanation for the accident.
The AAIB has also not yet published a finding concerning the aircraft’s condition, its operation or the events immediately preceding the crash.
Its investigators will examine the available evidence before determining the circumstances and causes of the accident.
Police Scotland said enquiries were continuing to establish the full circumstances.
As of 19 October, the AAIB’s announcement of its investigation remains the principal official update, with no published findings concerning the cause of the crash.
Sources
Fatal Light Aircraft Crash North East of Drymen
Police Scotland, October 2026
https://www.scotland.police.uk/what-s-happening/news/2026/october/fatal-light-aircraft-crash-north-east-of-drymen/
The AAIB Has Sent a Team to Stirling
Air Accidents Investigation Branch, 17 October 2026
https://www.gov.uk/government/news/the-aaib-has-sent-a-team-to-stirling
How We Work
Air Accidents Investigation Branch, 7 June 2018
https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/how-we-work/how-we-work
