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Nepal plane crash: Seven Britons killed Nepal plane crash: Seven Britons killed
(35 minutes later)
Seven Britons were among 19 people killed when a plane heading for the Everest region crashed in Nepal's capital, the Foreign Office has said.Seven Britons were among 19 people killed when a plane heading for the Everest region crashed in Nepal's capital, the Foreign Office has said.
The Sita Air plane came down minutes after take-off from Kathmandu. The Britons' next of kin have been contacted, the FO says.The Sita Air plane came down minutes after take-off from Kathmandu. The Britons' next of kin have been contacted, the FO says.
Officials said the aircraft crashed into a river bank and caught fire.Officials said the aircraft crashed into a river bank and caught fire.
The start of autumn marks the beginning of the Himalayan trekking season, which is popular with Western climbers.The start of autumn marks the beginning of the Himalayan trekking season, which is popular with Western climbers.
Aviation officials said five Chinese nationals and seven Nepalis, of whom three were crew members, were on board.Aviation officials said five Chinese nationals and seven Nepalis, of whom three were crew members, were on board.
The Press Association identified the Britons, quoting local travel company Sherpa Adventures, as Raymond Eagle, 58; Christopher Davey, 51; Vincent Kelly, 50; Darren Kelly, 45; Timothy Oakes, 57; Stephen Holding, 60; and Benjamin Ogden, 27. The Press Association news agency has identified the Britons, quoting local travel company Sherpa Adventures, as;
One of the victims, Darren Kelly, is believed to have been a property developer and businessman who lived in Isle of Whithorn in Dumfries and Galloway.
  • Stephen Holding, 60, from Barlaston in Staffordshire;
  • Raymond Eagle, 58, from Macclesfield in Cheshire;
  • Timothy Oakes, 57, from Winwick, Cheshire;
  • Christopher Davey, 51;
  • Vincent Kelly, 50, and his brother Darren, 45, who were originally from Lostock, Bolton;
    •
  • Benjamin Ogden, 27, who lived in London.
    •
Mr Kelly is thought to have moved to the Scottish village from Bolton, and to have perished in the crash with his elder brother Vincent. Darren and Vincent Kelly, are reported to have been fundraisers for the Bolton Lads & Girls Club.
Angie Gaunt, the wife of 57-year old victim Timothy Oakes, told the Press Association he was "on a trip of a lifetime with an old school friend". Darren is thought to have been a property developer and businessman who recently moved to Isle of Whithorn in Dumfries and Galloway.
Ms Gaunt said her husband, from Winwick in Cheshire, worked in education and "died doing something he always wanted to do". Angie Gaunt, the wife of victim Timothy Oakes, told the Press Association he was "on a trip of a lifetime with an old school friend".
Ms Gaunt said her husband worked in education and "died doing something he always wanted to do".
"He was a mountaineer and he always wanted to go to Everest base camp, not climb it, to go to the base camp, and that's what he was doing," she added."He was a mountaineer and he always wanted to go to Everest base camp, not climb it, to go to the base camp, and that's what he was doing," she added.
The cause of the crash has not yet been confirmed. However, the general manager of Tribhuvan International Airport, Ratish Chandra Lal Suman, said in a statement that the plane, a twin-propeller Dornier, had struck a bird. Another of the passengers, Raymond Eagle, was 58 and had worked as a support worker at Cheshire East Council.
He said air traffic control contacted the pilot after noticing an unusual manoeuvre minutes after take-off. The pilot said his plane had hit a vulture, the statement said. A council spokesman said he "enabled people with disabilities to live independently in their own homes".
One of his neighbours, Christopher West, told reporters Mr Eagle was a keen runner who "liked his sport, his running, and holidays. He's there one minute and the next minute he's off. He was a nice guy."
'Deeply missed'
The youngest victim, 27-year old Ben Ogden, was a graduate of Oxford University and had recently qualified as an associate for London-based international law firm Allen & Overy.
A spokesman for the company said: "As well as being an excellent lawyer, Ben was a very popular member of the firm.
"It was clear to everyone that he had an incredibly promising career ahead of him. Ben will be deeply missed by all who knew him."
The cause of the crash has not yet been officially confirmed. The general manager of Tribhuvan International Airport, Ratish Chandra Lal Suman, said in a statement that the plane, a twin-propeller Dornier, had struck a bird.
He said air traffic control contacted the pilot after noticing an unusual manoeuvre minutes after take-off, and the pilot said his plane had hit a vulture.
The British ambassador to Nepal, John Tucknott, said: "Our thoughts at the moment are with the families and friends of those who lost their lives."The British ambassador to Nepal, John Tucknott, said: "Our thoughts at the moment are with the families and friends of those who lost their lives."
Asked about the cause of the crash, Mr Tucknott said: "This is not the time to speculate; obviously there will be an air crash investigation and clearly we will have to wait to see what they find caused the air crash."Asked about the cause of the crash, Mr Tucknott said: "This is not the time to speculate; obviously there will be an air crash investigation and clearly we will have to wait to see what they find caused the air crash."
Earlier, he went to Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital, where the bodies of those who died had been taken.
Explore Worldwide, the Farnborough-based adventure travel company, confirmed that the Britons were its clients.Explore Worldwide, the Farnborough-based adventure travel company, confirmed that the Britons were its clients.
Their Nepalese tour guide was also on the plane. Ashley Toft, the company's managing director, said: "We are devastated by this news. Our thoughts are very much with the families of those affected, both in the UK and in Nepal.
Ashley Toft, the travel company's managing director, said: "We are devastated by this news. Our thoughts are very much with the families of those affected, both in the UK and in Nepal.
"The basic facts are that Sita Air operates scheduled flights and is approved by airline authorities. The weather was good. The plane was departing for Lukla and our passengers were heading for Everest Base Camp at the start of their trek.""The basic facts are that Sita Air operates scheduled flights and is approved by airline authorities. The weather was good. The plane was departing for Lukla and our passengers were heading for Everest Base Camp at the start of their trek."
He said the company was sending a senior manager to Nepal. She is expected to arrive on Saturday.He said the company was sending a senior manager to Nepal. She is expected to arrive on Saturday.
Speaking to the BBC News Channel, he added that the manager would also be helping to support the family of the Nepalese guide, who they "knew very well". Speaking to the BBC News Channel, he added that the manager would also be helping to support the family of the Nepalese guide, whom they "knew very well".
Plane 'caught fire'Plane 'caught fire'
The trekking season has just begun in Nepal and thousands of climbers, including many Westerners, head to the country's famous Himalayan peaks.Seven Britons die in Nepal crash
A spokeswoman for local travel company Sherpa Adventures said the British group arrived in Nepal on Wednesday and had been due to begin trekking later, completing their trip in mid-October.A spokeswoman for local travel company Sherpa Adventures said the British group arrived in Nepal on Wednesday and had been due to begin trekking later, completing their trip in mid-October.
Police spokesman Binod Singh told the AFP news agency that "the pilots seem to have tried to land it safely on the banks of the river but unfortunately the plane caught fire".Police spokesman Binod Singh told the AFP news agency that "the pilots seem to have tried to land it safely on the banks of the river but unfortunately the plane caught fire".
Images showed burning wreckage at the crash site and dozens of rescue and security personnel.Images showed burning wreckage at the crash site and dozens of rescue and security personnel.
British mountaineer Alan Hinkes told the BBC he had taken the flight from Kathmandu to Lukla many times and that problems usually occurred at the Lukla end. British mountaineer Alan Hinkes told the BBC he had taken the flight from Kathmandu to Lukla many times: "The landing strip in Lukla is a bit like an aircraft carrier with a mountain at the end of it, with a 1,000ft drop at the end of the runway. Normally crashes happen at that end." .
"The landing strip in Lukla is a bit like an aircraft carrier with a mountain at the end of it, with a 1,000ft drop at the end of the runway. Normally crashes happen at that end," he said.
He added: "It is not the safest place to fly, I must admit, but it is what you have to do to get into the mountains."He added: "It is not the safest place to fly, I must admit, but it is what you have to do to get into the mountains."
Aviation accidents involving small aircraft are not uncommon in mountainous Nepal.Aviation accidents involving small aircraft are not uncommon in mountainous Nepal.
In May, 15 people were killed when a plane crashed trying to land at an airport in the north of the country.In May, 15 people were killed when a plane crashed trying to land at an airport in the north of the country.
And in September 2011, 19 people were killed when a Buddha Air plane crashed during a flight to view Mount Everest.And in September 2011, 19 people were killed when a Buddha Air plane crashed during a flight to view Mount Everest.
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