This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/england/7566628.stm
The article has changed 22 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 8 | Version 9 |
|---|---|
| Five killed as two planes collide | Five killed as two planes collide |
| (11 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, five miles from Coventry Airport at 1140 BST, West Midlands Ambulance Service said. | The first plane came down close to Coombe Abbey, near Brinklow, five 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 were all confirmed dead at the scene. Their identities have not yet been revealed. |
| A Cessna 407 was one of the planes involved, said Warwickshire Police, who have appealed for any witnesses to the crash to come forward. | A Cessna 407 was one of the planes involved, said Warwickshire Police, who have 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' | 'Scene of devastation' |
| It is understood both planes were approaching the airport when they collided. | It is understood both planes were approaching the airport when they collided. |
| Air accident investigators and the emergency services are at the scene. | Air accident investigators and the emergency services are at the scene. |
| Murray MacGregor, spokesman for West Midlands Ambulance Service, said crews had found "quite a scene of devastation". | Murray MacGregor, spokesman for West Midlands Ambulance Service, said crews had found "quite 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 about a mile apart and 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. | 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 from the ambulance service, said: "On arrival at the scene they found both aircraft had crashed. One had gone down in Brandon Woods. |
| '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. | Mr MacGregor 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 county's fire service and Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) to investigate the collision. |
| Are you in the area? If you have any information you wish to share with the BBC, you can do so using the form below. | Are you in the area? If you have any information you wish to share with the BBC, you can do so using the form below. |
| You can send pictures or video to:yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124. If you have a large file you can upload here. | You can send pictures or video to:yourpics@bbc.co.uk or text them to 61124. If you have a large file you can upload here. |
| Click here to see terms and conditions | Click here to see terms and conditions |
| At no time should you endanger yourself or others, take any unnecessary risks or infringe any laws. | At no time should you endanger yourself or others, take any unnecessary risks or infringe any laws. |