'Some people were like, "Is this a joke? Is it a stunt?"'
Stunned sunbathers at a beach in the US state of New Hampshire watched a small plane somersault into the sea after it dramatically crash-landed in front of them.
A video filmed by one of the people relaxing on Hampton Beach on Saturday shows the aircraft slowly descending towards the water before flipping over its own nose.
Emergency services were called out to the scene just after 12pm, and found the vehicle bobbing around 30 yards (27m) off the shore.
New Hampshire State Lifeguards assisted the pilot out of the water, and they did not suffer any injuries. Nobody else was in the plane with them.
The reason for the crash was not immediately clear.
Local TV news station WMUR reported that the aircraft had been carrying a banner, though it was not specified what it said.
Liane McNamara, a local woman who has been filming her brother on the beach, told the New Hampshire Union Leader the crash happened just beyond where people were swimming.
She added: ‘Some people were like, “Is this a joke? Is it a stunt?” It was very surreal. It feels crazy even now.’
The newspaper reported that the plane was owned by Eugene Gray, a local businessman who runs aerial advertising company Sky Lines Banners & Biplanes.
Hampton Fire and Rescue confirmed an investigation would be carried out by the US Federal Aviation Administration (FAA).
In a statement, it said: ‘Deputy Fire Chief William Paine responded to the scene and remained on scene until the FAA Investigator responded and cleared the scene.
‘FAA Investigator turned the plane back over to the property owner.’
Another banner plane crashed into the sea further down the east coast at Myrtle Beach in South Carolina this morning.
The pilot was taken to a hospital nearby for treatment.
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