The UK sold some Gloster Meteors to the Syrian Air Force and as part of the contract the RAF would provide training in the UK for Syrian pilots. On 26th October 1954 one of these Syrian pilots was training at No.4 Flying Training School, based at Middleton St.George. The training unit had the use of nearby Neasham airfield as a relief landing ground. During what was described as the approach to land at Neasham this aircraft suffered an engine flame out. The aircraft lost height and clipped trees. It then crashed in a field and skidded across it which then took it toward the main Newcastle to York railway line. It slid down a slope and came to rest within feet of the line. The pilot sustained leg injuries and was taken to the Darlington Memorial Hospital. The aircraft appears to have been repaired.
The incident was witnessed by a lady at Rose Cottage, West Lane, Dalton on Tees who was washing up at the time. The way the newspapers reported the incident it suggests the aircraft was heading toward the airfield when it crashed but purely from the direction her rear kitchen window probably faced it would be far easier for it to be seen if it had overshot the airfield and over-ran the field behind her house toward the railway line. The trees along the railway would surely mask her view of the aircraft had it approached toward the airfield and her house.
Pilot - Lt Al Wan. Syrian Air Force.