A man has died after his plane crashed while heading in to land at Newquay airport on Monday evening.

Police report that the pilot, a 68 year old local man and the sole occupant of the aircraft, was inbound from London and was making an approach when the plane crashed "on land off the runway."

Police, ambulance and fire service personnel were sent to the crash at around 7.30pm, but the man was pronounced dead at the scene. Police said his next of kin have been informed.

The twin-engine, privately owned light aircraft remains in situ pending an investigation by the Air Accident Investigation Branch.

Newquay Airport was closed for a short time but has now fully re-opened and operating as normal.