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Five killed as two planes collide Five killed as two planes collide
(40 minutes later)
Five people have been killed in a mid-air collision between two light aircraft in Warwickshire.Five people have been killed in a mid-air collision between two light aircraft in Warwickshire.
The first plane came down close to Coombe Abbey, near Brinklow, three miles from Coventry Airport at 1140 BST, West Midlands Ambulance Service said. One plane came down close to Coombe Abbey, near Brinklow, three miles from Coventry Airport at 1140 BST, West Midlands Ambulance Service said.
The second aircraft crashed in nearby Brandon Woods.The second aircraft crashed in nearby Brandon Woods.
Eyewitness Malcolm Collins told the BBC how "the smaller plane disintegrated immediately, and the right engine of the twin aircraft blew up".Eyewitness Malcolm Collins told the BBC how "the smaller plane disintegrated immediately, and the right engine of the twin aircraft blew up".
One person in the first plane and four people in the second aircraft were all confirmed dead at the scene. Their identities have not yet been revealed. One person in the first plane and four people in the second aircraft - all adults - were confirmed dead at the scene. Their identities have not yet been revealed.
A Cessna was one of the planes involved, said Warwickshire Police, who have appealed for any witnesses to the crash to come forward. Warwickshire police confirmed a Cessna 402 was one of the planes involved and possibly a micro-light and appealed for any witnesses to the crash to come forward.
The debris from the aircraft "stretches across several miles", a spokesman said.The debris from the aircraft "stretches across several miles", a spokesman said.
'Scene of devastation' 'Small community'
It is understood both planes were approaching the airport when they collided. Det Supt Adrian MacGee confirmed both aircraft had flown out of Coventry Airport and it was believed were on their way back to the site when the crash occured.
Air accident investigators and the emergency services are at the scene. "How they collided and how they came to the collision we still do not know," he said.
Murray MacGregor, spokesman for West Midlands Ambulance Service, said crews had found "quite a scene of devastation". Air accident investigators and the emergency services are at the scene but the bodies have not yet been recovered.
Paul Harwood, head of human resources at Coventry Airport, told BBC News he knew those who died in the crash.
"They are known to us all. They've been around for some time, most of us have been around for some time," he said.
"It is a small community, and our sympathies don't just go out to our families, it's all those who are affected by today."
Witness Malcolm Collins says the accident happened in open skies
Murray MacGregor, spokesman for West Midlands Ambulance Service, said crews had found "a scene of devastation".
"Thankfully nobody was nearby when the debris came down," he said."Thankfully nobody was nearby when the debris came down," he said.
He added that the planes had crashed about a mile apart and an air ambulance was needed to help locate the wreckage in the wooded area. He added that the planes had crashed down about a mile apart and that an air ambulance was needed to help locate the wreckage in the wooded area.
Mr Collins, from Daventry, Northamptonshire, was at Coombe Abbey children's playground with his family and said the crash happened about 400m in front of him.Mr Collins, from Daventry, Northamptonshire, was at Coombe Abbey children's playground with his family and said the crash happened about 400m in front of him.
He and his wife had taken their children to the playground and he said about 40 to 60 people were also there.
"The twin engined aircraft was on quite a low approach to Coventry, on the normal land path, when a smaller aircraft came from the right and the twin-engined aircraft struck it side on, the smaller plane disintegrated immediately, and the right engine of the twin aircraft blew up," he said."The twin engined aircraft was on quite a low approach to Coventry, on the normal land path, when a smaller aircraft came from the right and the twin-engined aircraft struck it side on, the smaller plane disintegrated immediately, and the right engine of the twin aircraft blew up," he said.
"Whilst we watched the twin-engined aircraft bank steeply to the left, with smoke coming from its right engine, it seemed to level off and climb slightly, before dropping steeply down to the left," he added."Whilst we watched the twin-engined aircraft bank steeply to the left, with smoke coming from its right engine, it seemed to level off and climb slightly, before dropping steeply down to the left," he added.
Mr MacGregor from the ambulance service, said: "On arrival at the scene they found both aircraft had crashed. One had gone down in Brandon Woods. Mr MacGregor said: "On arrival at the scene they found both aircraft had crashed. One had gone down in Brandon Woods.
'Grim task''Grim task'
"Unfortunately there were four people confirmed dead in the wreckage of that aircraft," he said."Unfortunately there were four people confirmed dead in the wreckage of that aircraft," he said.
"The second aircraft landed in a field near Coventry Road, between Brinklow and Coventry, and sadly one person was confirmed dead at that aircraft crash site."The second aircraft landed in a field near Coventry Road, between Brinklow and Coventry, and sadly one person was confirmed dead at that aircraft crash site.
"Sadly there was nothing that could be done other than the grim task of confirming the deaths of the five people.""Sadly there was nothing that could be done other than the grim task of confirming the deaths of the five people."
Mr MacGregor said the weather conditions at the time of the crash would be one factor looked at by air accident investigators. He said the weather conditions at the time of the crash would be one factor looked at by air accident investigators.
Warwickshire Police said it was working jointly with the county's fire service and Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) to investigate the collision. Warwickshire Police said it was working jointly with the fire service and Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) to investigate the collision.
Mick Leach, incident support commander for Warwickshire fire service, said specialist teams were working at the site and that specialist fire crews from the West Midlands had been brought in to assist with specialist lifting and cutting equipment.
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