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| Couple among plane crash victims | Couple among plane crash victims |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| A married couple with two young children were among three people killed in a light aircraft crash, police said. | A married couple with two young children were among three people killed in a light aircraft crash, police said. |
| Nick O'Brien, 35 and his wife, Emma, 29, both from Solihull, West Midlands, were passengers on board the plane which crashed near Stafford on Friday. | Nick O'Brien, 35 and his wife, Emma, 29, both from Solihull, West Midlands, were passengers on board the plane which crashed near Stafford on Friday. |
| Pilot Alan Matthews, 59, of Walsall, also died when the plane hit power lines above the West Coast Main Line. | Pilot Alan Matthews, 59, of Walsall, also died when the plane hit power lines above the West Coast Main Line. |
| The line is not expected to reopen until Monday delaying trains from London to the North West and Scotland. | The line is not expected to reopen until Monday delaying trains from London to the North West and Scotland. |
| A British Transport Police (BTP) spokeswoman also said the couple, from Shirley, had two children, Callum, aged 10, and 18-month-old Joel. | A British Transport Police (BTP) spokeswoman also said the couple, from Shirley, had two children, Callum, aged 10, and 18-month-old Joel. |
| The plane's wreckage is expected to be moved on Saturday | |
| The remains of the aircraft will be removed from the scene on Saturday, the BTP said. | The remains of the aircraft will be removed from the scene on Saturday, the BTP said. |
| Inspectors from the Air Accidents Investigation Branch have been examining the scene. | Inspectors from the Air Accidents Investigation Branch have been examining the scene. |
| The aircraft was registered to Mr Matthews. | The aircraft was registered to Mr Matthews. |
| His wife Jenny confirmed he was piloting the light aircraft that crashed shortly before 1200 GMT. | His wife Jenny confirmed he was piloting the light aircraft that crashed shortly before 1200 GMT. |
| Mr Matthews is registered as company director of Sittles Farm Flying Club, near Lichfield, Staffordshire. | Mr Matthews is registered as company director of Sittles Farm Flying Club, near Lichfield, Staffordshire. |
| Crashed plane 'just nose down' | |
| His wife said he had 19 years flying experience and it was thought he had arranged to go flying with a work colleague. | His wife said he had 19 years flying experience and it was thought he had arranged to go flying with a work colleague. |
| Local resident Derek Higgott, who lives close to the crash scene, said: "I heard the plane, I looked up, and suddenly it just turned and went straight down like a stunt plane. | Local resident Derek Higgott, who lives close to the crash scene, said: "I heard the plane, I looked up, and suddenly it just turned and went straight down like a stunt plane. |
| "There was a huge thud and black smoke. You could feel the vibration from it and a huge flock of birds all took off." | |
| Police said it was expected post-mortem examinations would be carried out on Sunday. | Police said it was expected post-mortem examinations would be carried out on Sunday. |
| RAIL ENQUIRIES For more information on train times call 08457 48 49 50 National Rail Enquiries The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites | |
| All rail services on the West Coast Mainline between Rugby and Stafford remained suspended. | All rail services on the West Coast Mainline between Rugby and Stafford remained suspended. |
| A Network Rail spokesman said engineers hoped to finish the work by Sunday evening. | A Network Rail spokesman said engineers hoped to finish the work by Sunday evening. |
| "It should be clear for Monday morning commuters," he said. | "It should be clear for Monday morning commuters," he said. |
| There will be a reduced service and delays of up to 60 minutes on Virgin Trains services between London and north-west England which are being diverted via Coventry and will not call at stations between Nuneaton and Stafford. | There will be a reduced service and delays of up to 60 minutes on Virgin Trains services between London and north-west England which are being diverted via Coventry and will not call at stations between Nuneaton and Stafford. |
| On local services run by London Midland there is a replacement bus service calling at stations between Stafford and Rugby, with up to an extra hour added to journey times. | On local services run by London Midland there is a replacement bus service calling at stations between Stafford and Rugby, with up to an extra hour added to journey times. |