Coming home from work this evening I thought I was heading into a thunderstorm. Seriously threatening looking black cloud.. Until I realised it was emanating from the ground about 8 miles ahead.
A few miles closer, I realised it was coming from Lasham airfield where I am a member of the gliding club. At this point all sorts of things were going through my mind. What could cause such a huge plume of smoke? Not a glider, obviously. Not a tug aircraft... Much too much smoke for that.. Airliners do come and go from the maintenance operation there.. Surely not?
Anyway, went past and it looked to be an industrial unit just outside the airfield boundary - but could it still have been an aircraft?
Thankfully not..
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-14685487 What a mess, though! The smoke went through all sorts of colours while I was passing.. brown, black, grey, white. Police had closed the nearby road and were in the process of evacuating people. Did see a few ambulances but no idea if anyone was seriously hurt.
Did see a few idiot rubber-neckers just stopping and gawping while fire appliances were struggling to get through, though. Words fail me.