Two Dead After Plane Collision
Two people have been killed after a light air craft collision over the Midlands.
Two planes, one carrying two people, the other carrying three, have collided in mid-air. The three people plane managed to make an emergency landing at East Midlands Airport, Leicestershire, but the 2 passenger plane crashed in a field near Admaston.
It is assumed that the collision occurred about 14 miles away from the airport, 1800 feet above the ground, at just after midday GMT.
Michael Sargeant, farmer and owner of the field was the one to alert the emergency services of the wreckage:
“I saw smoke down my field. I went down in Land Rover, I pulled right up to it. The plane was burning but almost burned out. I could see bodies there but I could see there was nothing I could do. I came straight back and rang 999."
A spokeswoman for Staffordshire Ambulance confirmed that they had been called to an incident where a light aircraft had crashed into a field at approximately twenty past twelve GMT, but a few hours later, the West Ambulance Service verified that two had been killed.
An ambulance, doctor and a [community] rapid response team had been directed towards the scene of the crash, with an air ambulance being put on standby, but later called off.
The plane that managed to land safely, sent out a mayday call to the airport, reporting that he had sit something and that the undercarriage of the plane had been lost, requiring emergency landing facilities, which were provided.
Richard Chamberlain, a chip shop manager from Stapleford and aircraft enthusiast, heard they mayday on a scanner, and later told the BBC News website:
“The pilot reported he had hit something. He didn't know what it was but said there was burning debris beneath him and he said he had lost part of his undercarriage. He requested emergency landing facilities.”
"I saw the plane come into land, I was literally about 100 yards away and had a clear view.”
"It was very unnerving watching it come in. It looked to have lost two or three wheels. You could see the pilot was shocked but he stayed calm and it was a text-book landing.”
"It landed on its left-hand side, cocked over onto its wing, but there was no fire.”
The airport runway was briefly closed, but was soon reopened. Nine flights were diverted and two were cancelled.
Identities of the deceased have not been revealed.
Two planes, one carrying two people, the other carrying three, have collided in mid-air. The three people plane managed to make an emergency landing at East Midlands Airport, Leicestershire, but the 2 passenger plane crashed in a field near Admaston.
It is assumed that the collision occurred about 14 miles away from the airport, 1800 feet above the ground, at just after midday GMT.
Michael Sargeant, farmer and owner of the field was the one to alert the emergency services of the wreckage:
“I saw smoke down my field. I went down in Land Rover, I pulled right up to it. The plane was burning but almost burned out. I could see bodies there but I could see there was nothing I could do. I came straight back and rang 999."
A spokeswoman for Staffordshire Ambulance confirmed that they had been called to an incident where a light aircraft had crashed into a field at approximately twenty past twelve GMT, but a few hours later, the West Ambulance Service verified that two had been killed.
An ambulance, doctor and a [community] rapid response team had been directed towards the scene of the crash, with an air ambulance being put on standby, but later called off.
The plane that managed to land safely, sent out a mayday call to the airport, reporting that he had sit something and that the undercarriage of the plane had been lost, requiring emergency landing facilities, which were provided.
Richard Chamberlain, a chip shop manager from Stapleford and aircraft enthusiast, heard they mayday on a scanner, and later told the BBC News website:
“The pilot reported he had hit something. He didn't know what it was but said there was burning debris beneath him and he said he had lost part of his undercarriage. He requested emergency landing facilities.”
"I saw the plane come into land, I was literally about 100 yards away and had a clear view.”
"It was very unnerving watching it come in. It looked to have lost two or three wheels. You could see the pilot was shocked but he stayed calm and it was a text-book landing.”
"It landed on its left-hand side, cocked over onto its wing, but there was no fire.”
The airport runway was briefly closed, but was soon reopened. Nine flights were diverted and two were cancelled.
Identities of the deceased have not been revealed.
That's awful, especially as I live/lived in that part of England.
RIP
Mike Dirnt., December 17th, 2007 at 09:00:30am