Two Victims Of Private Jet Crash Named

[el guapo]

Two Victims Of Private Jet Crash Named

By Sky News SkyNews - Monday, March 31 04:26 amTwo of the five victims of a private jet crash that destroyed a home in Kent have been named by Sky sources as David Leslie and Richard Lloyd.



Both men were well-known in the world of motor racing.

They were killed when the small plane they were travelling in nose-dived into two homes after sending a mayday call.

"There was a massive hole in the roof of the house, you can see where it went through," said resident Karl Mills, who saw the incident.

The private Cessna Citation 501 aircraft hit Broadwater Gardens, a residential area in Farnborough, entirely destroying one house.

Jim Bascran of the London Fire Brigade said: "No survivors were found but I can confirm that there were no people found in the houses."

Metropolitan Police spokesman Bob Broadhurst said work would begin on Monday to remove the dead bodies and added that no more could be said until the next of kin had been contacted.

The owners of the home that was destroyed were away on holiday and neighbours expressed relief that no one on the ground was badly injured.

Witnesses suggested the pilot had fought to minimise the destruction of the crash by bringing the doomed plane down away from the busiest part of the large housing estate.

London Fire Brigade sent eight fire engines to the scene, while the London Ambulance Service sent four ambulances, four fast response cars, four duty managers and an area response team.

A pilot who was flying a four-seater aircraft just ahead of the one that crashed told Sky News he heard the plane make a mayday call.

"I was on final approach about 30 seconds from touchdown at Biggin Hill and I heard the pilot in the other plane declare mayday," he said.

"They were experiencing some aircraft vibration in the engines.

"Biggin Hill Tower acknowledged the mayday and the pilot reported five people on board.

"As I turned off the runway, I looked back and saw the plane nosedive.

"The radio went dead and all the black smoke came up."

It is understood the plane was heading for Pau in south west France on a business trip.

A spokesman for the Met Police said there were five people in the twin-engined private jet - two pilots and three passengers.

One of the victims, David Leslie, was a former touring car champion.

He died along with motorsport executive Richard Lloyd and pilot Mike Roberts, according to reports.

Dr Ian Stell, the head of accident and emergency at the nearby Princess Royal Hospital, said his unit had been on standby for a major incident but was stood down.

Two people on the ground who were not directly involved in the crash were treated for shock, he said.

Evacuated residents have been told they will not be able to return to their homes for several hours while air accident investigators work to determine the cause of the devastating crash.

A single bouquet of flowers was left just outside a cordon at the entrance to Romsey Drive.

It read: "With deepest sympathies. Our hearts go out to you and your families. God bless, RIP."

[Clodhopper]

Of course one is sorry for the victims, but it could have been so much worse. One has to admire the pilot, trying to get clear of the houses.

Get a few planes that pass nearby from Heathrow (only a couple a day, fortunately). Have to admit I'm a bit nervous about this sort of thing.

Notice you are in Surrey - was this your neck of the woods?

[qsducks]

Then you would not want to live in my neck of the woods as we are about 4 miles from Philadelphia International Airport and get planes going over all day long and some of them are really low so that you can see the tires out for landing.