THE pilot in the election-day plane crash which injured UKIP leader Nigel Farage has appeared in court accused of threatening to kill the politician.

Justin Charles Oliver Adams, 45, of Glenwood, Buckland, near Faringdon, appeared at Oxford Magistrates’ Court yesterday.

He is accused of threatening to kill Mr Farage and a second man, Civil Aviation Authority investigator Martin James.

Adams, who runs a company called Sky Banners, was flying Mr Farage on Thursday, May 6. The plane was towing a banner with the slogan: “Vote for your country – Vote UKIP”. It crashed at Hinton-in-the-Hedges airfield, near Brackley, in Northamptonshire, and Mr Farage was taken to Banbury’s Horton Hospital with minor injuries.

The pilot was later cleared of any responsibility for the crash.

Adams did not offer a plea to the charges and the case was sent to Oxford Crown Court for a trial.

He was arrested on Sunday after calls were made to the police. It is alleged that on November 26, he threatened to kill Mr Farage. Then on Sunday, he also allegedly made threats to kill Mr James.

Bail was refused and Adams is due to appear at Oxford Crown Court next Tuesday.