A terrifying image reveals the moment a 'highly skilled' pilot spun out of control during an aerobatic display - right before the plane crashed in front of horrified spectators this afternoon. Smoke billows from David Jenkins' single-engine Edge 360 plane above Old Buckenham Airfield near Attleborough, Norfolk. The man in his 50s tragically died when it crashed just 50 metres from a group of people who were at a press day for the air show. A friend who wished to stay anonymous said: 'He was the best bloke I knew. He was highly skilled and knew exactly what he was doing.' Mr Jenkins was a member of the Wildcat Aerobatic Team based at Old Buckenham Airfield and has been a regular competitor at UK aerobatics competitions, winning over 40 medals. Scroll down for video . Terror: A terrifying new image reveals the moment David Jenkins' plane spun out of control - before crashing at the Old Buckenham Airfield . Deceased: A friend of the dead pilot who has been named locally as David Jenkins' said: 'He was the best bloke I knew' Tragedy: The pilot of an aerobatics display aircraft is feared dead after crashing in front of horrified spectators this afternoon (file photo of an Edge 360) Response: Police and rescue services attended the scene in Old Buckenham (pictured) where a pilot has died after his stunt plane crashed . Disaster: The single-engine Edge 360 plane was being put through its paces when it crashed in flames at Old Buckenham Airfield near Norfolk (pictured) Eyewitnesses saw the plane go into a flat spin and failing to come out if it during its display at around 2.45pm. Witnesses said that the burning wreckage of the plane was extinguished by firefighters. Lauren Cope, a reporter for the Eastern Daily Press who was at the press launch, said: 'It's very quiet here and everyone is very emotional.' Mr Jenkins was named British Advanced Champion in 2012 and 2013 and a member of the UK team at the 2012 aerobatic world championships. According to his profile on the Wildcat's website, he began flying as a teenager living near Panshangar airfield near Welwyn Garden City. A pilot who flew out of the airfield this morning said he only found out about the tragedy when he returned this evening after being diverted elsewhere. Simon Garrett said: 'We were due to land back here but were sent elsewhere because of this emergency. 'We didn't know anybody had died until now. It is a terrible tragedy and very unusual because the teams involved are highly skilled. I knew the gentleman involved and he was very experienced.' A Norfolk Police spokesman said that 'sadly the pilot of the aircraft died at the scene' and his next of kin has been informed. An area of the airfield has been cordoned off - most probably overnight - while the investigation is handed over to the Air Accident Investigation Branch and a file prepared for the coroner. Emergency: A local resident says she knew something bad had happened when she heard police sirens rushing to the airfield . Crash: The plane went down just  50 metres from a group of around 20 people who were at a press day to publicise an air show at Old Buckenham Airfield (pictured) A Norfolk Police spokesman said: 'Officers attended, along with colleagues from Norfolk Fire and Rescue Service and the East of England Ambulance Service, to find wreckage near to the airfield. 'Police believe one person has died as a result of the crash and officers are currently trying to identify and inform next of kin. Firefighters and ambulance crews are also in attendance.' The East Anglia Air Ambulance helicopter, ambulance paramedics and police were also quickly on the scene. A spokeswoman for the East of England Ambulance Service said: 'The air ambulance, an ambulance and an ambulance officer have been sent to an incident at the airfield.' A spokesperson for the airfield said the Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) would be be notified. Tribute: A friend of the pilot who died at the Old Buckenham Airfield today said: 'He was the best bloke I knew' Victim: Norfolk Police believes one person has died as a result of the crash and officers are currently trying to identify and inform next of kin . Accident: The single-engine plane was being put through its paces when it crashed in flames at Old Buckenham Airfield (pictured) 64-year-old Sue Cottee who lives nearby says she heard the emergency services rushing to the tragic scene. She said: 'I assumed it was a crash on the main road. I knew something big had happened but I'm so shocked to hear a pilot died. It's really sad. 'I go down to the air show every year with my family. They fly the planes overhead every day and I see them practising when I take my dog out.' An Air Accident Investigation Board spokesman said: 'We are aware of an incident. We have deployed at team to the scene to start investigations.'
The Edge 360 plane crashed in flames at Old Buckenham Airfield in Norfolk .
Eyewitnesses saw single-engine aircraft go into a flat spin at about 2.45pm .
Pilot who died in the incident has been named locally as David Jenkins .
'He was the best bloke I knew,' said a friend who wished not to be named .