Vertical Aerospace eVTOL Prototype Goes Down During Uncrewed Test Flight

The company confirmed the August 9 accident in an SEC filing, and photos show significant damage to the aircraft.

Jack Daleo

Monday, August 14, 2023 at 05:19 PM ET

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Vertical’s VX4 prototype, registered as G-EVTL, went down at Cotswold Airport last week. [Courtesy: Vertical Aerospace]

Key Takeaways:

Vertical Aerospace's VX4 eVTOL prototype crashed during an uncrewed motor failure test, resulting in significant damage, a pause in flight testing, and potential further delays to its already revised 2026 certification target.
The incident adds financial pressure as Vertical Aerospace seeks additional capital, though the company maintains the industry's second-largest order backlog, reflecting broader challenges and delays also faced by other eVTOL competitors.

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An accident last week involving an electric vertical takeoff and landing (eVTOL) aircraft could add a few suspicious glares to the wide eyes anticipating the birth of advanced air mobility (AAM) services.

On August 9, an eVTOL made by U.K.-based manufacturer Vertical Aerospace—a prototype of the company’s VX4, registered as G-EVTL—came down during an uncrewed test flight at Cotswold Airport (EGBP) in England. As reported by the U.K.’s Pilot, an airfield source claimed the aircraft was conducting inflight shutdowns when it impacted from about 20 feet high.