Pilot draws smiley face in sky after England win

An aerobatics pilot wasted no time celebrating England's nail-biting Euro 2024 quarter-final win on Saturday.

Mark Jefferies, who runs Little Gransden Airfield in Cambridgeshire, reached 7,000ft (2,134m) within minutes of the side beating Switzerland 5-3 on penalties, and drew a giant number five and a smiley face in the sky with his plane.

"I landed from Hereford and London air traffic control told me the result was, at that time, 1-1," he said.

"I had planned on doing something, so I turned on the telly for the result."

Mr Jefferies said the recent weather had not favoured vapour trail displays but he got lucky after a cold front moved through, although strong winds wiped the smiley face away fairly quickly.

The pilot became known during lockdown for creating hearts in the sky in tribute to NHS efforts.

Video filmed by Alex Harris

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