The world's largest aircraft has crashed during its second test flight since being revamped in the UK.

Airlander 10, a 302ft-long (92-metre) part plane, part helicopter and part airship, was damaged at its base at Cardington Airfield, Bedfordshire on Wednesday morning.

Photographs emerged showing the aircraft on the ground with its nose pointing towards the floor.

Read more: New images of world's largest aircraft the Airlander 10 revealed

Hybrid Air Vehicles, which is developing Airlander 10, issued a statement on Facebook which said: "We're debriefing following the second test flight this morning. All crew are safe and well and there are no injuries."

First developed for the US government as a long-endurance surveillance aircraft, the British firm launched a campaign to return the craft to the sky after it fell foul of defence cutbacks.

It is about 50ft (15 metres) longer than the biggest passenger jets and uses helium to become airborne, travelling at speeds of up to 92mph.

The Airlander successfully completed its first test flight without incident on August 17. It performed one lap of the airfield before landing about half an hour later.

Read more: New images of world's largest aircraft the Airlander 10 revealed

That was set to be the beginning of 200 hours of test flights for the 143ft-wide (44-metre) and 85ft-high (26-metre) craft, which will be able to stay airborne for about five days during manned flights.

HAV claims it could be used for a variety of functions such as surveillance, communications, delivering aid and even passenger travel.

Read more: New images of world's largest aircraft the Airlander 10 revealed

It is also hoped the Airlander 50 will eventually be developed, which would be able to transport 50 tonnes of freight.

Amateur footage of the crash shows the Airlander travelling steadily at low altitude over a field before tipping forwards with its nose pointing towards the ground.

As one onlooker says "Surely you'd be worried that it's going to smash into the ground?", the aircraft hits the field, with its cockpit appearing to take the brunt of the impact.

One spectator says "He's crashed it", before another adds "Well, that's it, (it's) not going up again."