Kate Middleton and Prince William mourn death of Royal Air Force pilot after crash

Kate Middleton and Prince William reacted to the death of Mark Long, a British Royal Air Force pilot who passed away after crashing a World War II-era Spitfire plane on May 25.

Kate Middleton and Prince William are speaking out. Following the death of Royal Air Force pilot Mark Long, who passed away over the weekend in a “tragic accident,” the royals issued a statement on social media.

Prince William and Kate Middleton honored the death of Mark Long, a British Royal Air Force (RAF) pilot who crashed while flying a World War II-era Spitfire plane on May 25.

“Incredibly sad to hear of the news this afternoon from RAF Coningsby,” the couple shared on X, formerly known as Twitter, the same day. “Our thoughts this evening are with the pilot’s loved ones, the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight, and the wider RAF family.”

Long’s death was confirmed by Group Captain Robbie Lees, who called the pilot a “great friend, colleague, and a passionate, professional aviator.”

“An investigation into the cause of this tragic event has now begun,” the May 26 statement explained. “The RAF will not be offering any comment on the accident until that investigation has concluded, and likewise, we ask others not to speculate.”