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| Welshpool crash: Mid Wales Airport manager named locally among two dead | Welshpool crash: Mid Wales Airport manager named locally among two dead |
| (about 2 hours later) | |
| One of the two people killed after a light aircraft crashed into a Powys mountain has been named locally as the manager of Mid Wales Airport. | One of the two people killed after a light aircraft crashed into a Powys mountain has been named locally as the manager of Mid Wales Airport. |
| Bob Jones died when the twin-engine aircraft came down on Long Mountain, close to Welshpool, on Wednesday. | Bob Jones died when the twin-engine aircraft came down on Long Mountain, close to Welshpool, on Wednesday. |
| Mr Jones, who was also a farmer, founded Mid Wales Airport, near Welshpool, which was built on his land in the early 1990s. | |
| The Air Accident Investigation Branch (AAIB) is investigating. | The Air Accident Investigation Branch (AAIB) is investigating. |
| Dyfed-Powys Police were called to the crash scene near the village of Leighton at about 12:00 GMT. | Dyfed-Powys Police were called to the crash scene near the village of Leighton at about 12:00 GMT. |
| Mid Wales Airport would not comment, but it closed for the day after the tragedy. | Mid Wales Airport would not comment, but it closed for the day after the tragedy. |
| The airport was developed from a grass airstrip in 1990 to act as a base for companies operating aircraft in the area. | The airport was developed from a grass airstrip in 1990 to act as a base for companies operating aircraft in the area. |
| It functions both as a business airport, and for general aviation. Wales Air Ambulance's mid Wales helicopter also flies out of there. | It functions both as a business airport, and for general aviation. Wales Air Ambulance's mid Wales helicopter also flies out of there. |
| Mr Jones was an experienced pilot and a well-known local businessman. He lived a few hundred metres away from the airport. | |
| Montgomeryshire MP Glyn Davies worked with Mr Jones to develop the airport when Mr Davies was chairman of a regional development agency. | Montgomeryshire MP Glyn Davies worked with Mr Jones to develop the airport when Mr Davies was chairman of a regional development agency. |
| "Bob was a local farmer who loved flying," said the MP. | "Bob was a local farmer who loved flying," said the MP. |
| "It was a grass strip on the farm and he just decided to convert the grass strip. | "It was a grass strip on the farm and he just decided to convert the grass strip. |
| "I became involved because I was the chairman of a local development agency at the time, and I was one of his instruments in delivering his vision. | "I became involved because I was the chairman of a local development agency at the time, and I was one of his instruments in delivering his vision. |
| "There are companies in mid Wales now who wouldn't be there except for Bob Jones." | "There are companies in mid Wales now who wouldn't be there except for Bob Jones." |
| Following the air crash, Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service sent three engines to the scene, and police and the Welsh Ambulance Service were also there. | Following the air crash, Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service sent three engines to the scene, and police and the Welsh Ambulance Service were also there. |
| Dyfed-Powys Police said they were called by the airport after a twin-engine aircraft failed to return after a short flight. | Dyfed-Powys Police said they were called by the airport after a twin-engine aircraft failed to return after a short flight. |
| "This incident involved a light aircraft which has come down on Long Mountain," said Ch Insp Martin Tavener. | "This incident involved a light aircraft which has come down on Long Mountain," said Ch Insp Martin Tavener. |
| "We have now located next of kin and a family liaison officer has been appointed. | "We have now located next of kin and a family liaison officer has been appointed. |
| "The Air Accident Investigation Branch are en route to the scene and will take on the investigation from here." | "The Air Accident Investigation Branch are en route to the scene and will take on the investigation from here." |
| A fire service spokesperson said: "Two appliances from Welshpool, one appliance from Llanfair Caereinion, and a Land Rover pump from Llanfyllin have attended the incident. | A fire service spokesperson said: "Two appliances from Welshpool, one appliance from Llanfair Caereinion, and a Land Rover pump from Llanfyllin have attended the incident. |
| "Two breathing apparatus sets have been in use, and a low pressure hose reel jet." | "Two breathing apparatus sets have been in use, and a low pressure hose reel jet." |
| 'Broken up' | 'Broken up' |
| Local farmer Bryan Morris, 38, said the plane crashed into a field around a mile from his house. | Local farmer Bryan Morris, 38, said the plane crashed into a field around a mile from his house. |
| He said: "Part of it is in the field and part of it is in the woods so it's obviously broken up quite a bit. I haven't been over there myself as I didn't want to get in the way. | He said: "Part of it is in the field and part of it is in the woods so it's obviously broken up quite a bit. I haven't been over there myself as I didn't want to get in the way. |
| "There's still a van and a couple of other vehicles over there but that's nothing compared to earlier." | "There's still a van and a couple of other vehicles over there but that's nothing compared to earlier." |
| Mr Morris said he did not see or hear the crash, even though he was outside at the time. | Mr Morris said he did not see or hear the crash, even though he was outside at the time. |
| He said: "I was outside in the field and saw some smoke but didn't think anything of it. I just thought someone was having a fire. | He said: "I was outside in the field and saw some smoke but didn't think anything of it. I just thought someone was having a fire. |
| "Then two helicopters landed, so I knew then something must have happened." | "Then two helicopters landed, so I knew then something must have happened." |