Welsh First Minister Eluned Morgan has shared the harrowing story of a plane crash she survived as a child in northern Spain, calling it “the biggest shock of our lives.”

The crash occurred in 1978 when Morgan was just 11 years old, while traveling with her family and a family friend in a small Cessna aircraft. The plane went down on a golf course near Bilbao after narrowly avoiding a cliff.

“The undercarriage was ripped out, the wings were on fire, and thankfully the whole family escaped – certainly not unscathed, but it was clearly the biggest shock of our lives,” Morgan recalled.

The Crash and Escape

The family had been offered a free holiday to northern Spain, and a private pilot flew them there and back. On the return journey, industrial fog and mist at Bilbao made landing dangerous. Morgan remembered sensing that something was wrong.

“Because the pilot couldn’t see the landing strip, he approached from the sea, then realised there was a cliff ahead of him. He pulled up very quickly, the engine stalled, and we crashed onto a golf course,” she said.

Morgan described the terrifying moments after impact, when the plane’s wings were on fire and passengers briefly lost consciousness. Her family had to drag themselves from the wreckage amid confusion and fear.

“We had no idea if the plane was going to blow up. We were absolutely lost and very concerned for my mother and the pilot, as well as the other woman who was with us,” Morgan said.

Most adults on board, except her father, suffered ribs broken by seatbelt impact, while her youngest brother, four at the time, had a spinal injury from sitting on her father’s lap.

Returning to the Scene

Years later, Morgan returned to the golf course near Bilbao with her parents to thank those who helped them after the crash. She described the visit as emotional, highlighting the generosity and care shown to her family.

“It’s lovely to go back now, to say thank you for the support they gave us, and we give thanks every day that we survived what could have been a very, very tragic situation,” she said.

Current Visit to Spain

Morgan is currently in Spain to strengthen trade and economic ties between Wales and the Basque Country and Catalonia. On Wednesday, she signed a partnership agreement with Catalonian President Salvador Illa covering technology, renewable energy, trade, investment, language, and culture. She is also scheduled to sign a similar agreement with Basque Country President Imanol Pradales.