Home owner visits jet crash ruins

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The owner of a house which was flattened when a private jet crashed into it, killing five men, has visited the Kent site for the first time.

Edwin Harman, 72, who was on holiday when the plane came down in Romsey Close, Farnborough, on Sunday afternoon said his home was "unrecognisable".

The bodies of five people have been removed from the crash scene by police.

Two pilots and three passengers died when the plane plummeted and burst into flames after take-off.

Mr Harman said he and his wife Patricia, 68, were lucky to be alive as they would normally have been at home on Sunday afternoon.

The neighbours have been brilliant to us... we've always been happy here, it's got a real community spirit Edwin Harman

He said: "It's terrible. I mean I'd seen pictures but when you actually get here and see how bad it is. It's unrecognisable.

"I've not been allowed too close so I can't see much, but I don't think there's much to see close up anyway, there's nothing left.

"The plane only clipped it, it's the fireball that did the damage," Mr Harman said.

Mr Harman, who visited the site with stepsons Steven and Peter Hale and granddaughter Rachel, 18, said the only things that remained were the contents of his garages.

He and his wife had been on a golfing trip in Spain when the Cessna Citation 1 jet came down.

The couple, who are staying with family, decided to continue their holiday immediately after the crash as there was "no point coming back".

Clues to crash

Mr Harman said: "I was with friends and they were very supportive."

He added: "The neighbours have been brilliant to us, and they're letting us store what was in our garages in theirs. We've always been happy here, it's got a real community spirit."

Investigation work at the site is ongoingEx-touring car racer David Leslie, team owner Richard Lloyd and pilot Mike Roberts are thought to have died in the crash.

Passenger Christopher Allarton, 25, and co-pilot Michael Chapman, 57 are also thought to have perished, although formal identification of all five on board will not happen for some time.

The Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) is expected to be searching through the wreckage for clues to what caused the crash at the site until Wednesday.

The remains of Mr and Mrs Harman's house will be demolished.