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| Nepal plane crash: tributes paid to dead Britons | Nepal plane crash: tributes paid to dead Britons |
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| Tributes have been paid to seven Britons on a trekking holiday who were among 19 people killed when a small plane crashed after takeoff from Kathmandu airport, Nepal, possibly after hitting a large bird. | Tributes have been paid to seven Britons on a trekking holiday who were among 19 people killed when a small plane crashed after takeoff from Kathmandu airport, Nepal, possibly after hitting a large bird. |
| The plane crashed on the bank of the Manohara river at 6.18am on Friday , in clear weather. No cause was immediately obvious, the deputy police chief at the Tribhuvan international airport, Superintendent Rabiraj Shrestha, said, but hitting a large bird may have been one possibility. | The plane crashed on the bank of the Manohara river at 6.18am on Friday , in clear weather. No cause was immediately obvious, the deputy police chief at the Tribhuvan international airport, Superintendent Rabiraj Shrestha, said, but hitting a large bird may have been one possibility. |
| Lawyer Ben Ogden, 27, from Buckingham, an Oxford University graduate who worked for the international law firm Allen & Overy, was on the Everest Base Camp trip to celebrate just having qualified. The firm said the young lawyer, who lived in London, "had an incredibly promising career ahead of him". | Lawyer Ben Ogden, 27, from Buckingham, an Oxford University graduate who worked for the international law firm Allen & Overy, was on the Everest Base Camp trip to celebrate just having qualified. The firm said the young lawyer, who lived in London, "had an incredibly promising career ahead of him". |
| Vincent Kelly, 50, and his brother Darren, 45, were also part of the group, who arrived in Nepal on Wednesday and were due to begin a three-week trek in the Khumbu region around Mount Everest on Friday. | Vincent Kelly, 50, and his brother Darren, 45, were also part of the group, who arrived in Nepal on Wednesday and were due to begin a three-week trek in the Khumbu region around Mount Everest on Friday. |
| The group were travelling with the Hampshire-based company Explore Worldwide, which said in a statement it was "devastated by this news". | The group were travelling with the Hampshire-based company Explore Worldwide, which said in a statement it was "devastated by this news". |
| All those aboard the twin-propeller Dornier, operated by the domestic airline Sita Air and bound for Lukla, died when it crashed in flames shortly after takeoff. An air accident investigation was launched. | All those aboard the twin-propeller Dornier, operated by the domestic airline Sita Air and bound for Lukla, died when it crashed in flames shortly after takeoff. An air accident investigation was launched. |
| The victims included five tourists believed to be from China, four Nepalese passengers, including Explore's local tour guide, and the crew. | The victims included five tourists believed to be from China, four Nepalese passengers, including Explore's local tour guide, and the crew. |
| The Britons, named by local travel company Sherpa Adventures, included Timothy Oakes, 57, a married father and secondary school adviser for Lancashire county council. He loved mountaineering and was on the trip of a lifetime with an old school friend, his distraught wife, Angie Gaunt, said at the family home in Winwick, Cheshire. | The Britons, named by local travel company Sherpa Adventures, included Timothy Oakes, 57, a married father and secondary school adviser for Lancashire county council. He loved mountaineering and was on the trip of a lifetime with an old school friend, his distraught wife, Angie Gaunt, said at the family home in Winwick, Cheshire. |
| She added: "He was going because he always wanted to see Everest. If you love the mountains, it is the ultimate." | She added: "He was going because he always wanted to see Everest. If you love the mountains, it is the ultimate." |
| His travelling companion was understood to be Stephen Holding, 60, a retired teacher from the village of Barlaston, Staffordshire, who was also a keen mountaineer, according to Keith Finney, brother of his wife, Maggie. | His travelling companion was understood to be Stephen Holding, 60, a retired teacher from the village of Barlaston, Staffordshire, who was also a keen mountaineer, according to Keith Finney, brother of his wife, Maggie. |
| "My sister just wants to say Stephen had gone out on a trip of a lifetime. He had been planning the trip for 18 months and was with a lifetime friend," he said. | "My sister just wants to say Stephen had gone out on a trip of a lifetime. He had been planning the trip for 18 months and was with a lifetime friend," he said. |
| Another victim, Raymond Eagle, 58, a keen fell runner, from Macclesfield, who lived alone, worked for Cheshire East council as a support worker for disabled people. Neighbour Pauline Girdwood said he was very active and ran every day. "This was the sort of thing he did. He did go trekking, he was a fell runner and very, very active in outdoor activities." | Another victim, Raymond Eagle, 58, a keen fell runner, from Macclesfield, who lived alone, worked for Cheshire East council as a support worker for disabled people. Neighbour Pauline Girdwood said he was very active and ran every day. "This was the sort of thing he did. He did go trekking, he was a fell runner and very, very active in outdoor activities." |
| Darren Kelly, a property developer and businessman living in the Isle of Whithorn in Dumfries and Galloway, was originally from Bolton but had moved to the village in recent years, where he renovated property for holiday lets. Vice-chairman of a local diving club, he was described by residents as a "first-class guy" who was active in the community. The club's treasurer, Chris Harrison said: "He'll be a great loss to the club but mostly to his wife and family. He was a dynamic and enthusiastic person." | Darren Kelly, a property developer and businessman living in the Isle of Whithorn in Dumfries and Galloway, was originally from Bolton but had moved to the village in recent years, where he renovated property for holiday lets. Vice-chairman of a local diving club, he was described by residents as a "first-class guy" who was active in the community. The club's treasurer, Chris Harrison said: "He'll be a great loss to the club but mostly to his wife and family. He was a dynamic and enthusiastic person." |
| His brother Vincent, a company director of Lostock, Bolton, was a "most prolific" and "well respected" supporter of Bolton Lads & Girls Club – raising funds to replace its Astroturf by cycling from John O'Groats to Land's End – said the club in a statement. "There aren't enough words to describe just how wonderful Vincent was – a dedicated family man with a generous heart of gold who was a perfect role model for all," said Mark Brocklehurst, a member of the club's board. | His brother Vincent, a company director of Lostock, Bolton, was a "most prolific" and "well respected" supporter of Bolton Lads & Girls Club – raising funds to replace its Astroturf by cycling from John O'Groats to Land's End – said the club in a statement. "There aren't enough words to describe just how wonderful Vincent was – a dedicated family man with a generous heart of gold who was a perfect role model for all," said Mark Brocklehurst, a member of the club's board. |
| The seventh Briton to die was named as Christopher Davey, 51, believed to be from Northampton. | The seventh Briton to die was named as Christopher Davey, 51, believed to be from Northampton. |
| Eyewitnesses said a fire broke out as the plane made an emergency landing on the bank of the Manohara. They heard screaming coming from inside the plane before it crashed into a field and said it was already on fire before it hit the ground. | Eyewitnesses said a fire broke out as the plane made an emergency landing on the bank of the Manohara. They heard screaming coming from inside the plane before it crashed into a field and said it was already on fire before it hit the ground. |
| Harimaya Tamang, who lives near the crash site, said: "We thought the pilot was trying to force-land because it was on fire and the river area had open space to land. | Harimaya Tamang, who lives near the crash site, said: "We thought the pilot was trying to force-land because it was on fire and the river area had open space to land. |
| "The plane hit the ground, bounced once but it did not break. The plane was already on fire, the local people rushed with buckets and tried to put out the flames but it was too hot and people could not get close enough." | "The plane hit the ground, bounced once but it did not break. The plane was already on fire, the local people rushed with buckets and tried to put out the flames but it was too hot and people could not get close enough." |
| The prime minister, David Cameron, on a visit to Brazil, said: "It is an absolutely horrific incident and obviously I feel for the families concerned. We are doing everything we can to inform the next of kin. I know our ambassador in Nepal is on the case and on the spot dealing with it. Obviously we will have to find out exactly what happened. It is a deeply, deeply tragic case." | The prime minister, David Cameron, on a visit to Brazil, said: "It is an absolutely horrific incident and obviously I feel for the families concerned. We are doing everything we can to inform the next of kin. I know our ambassador in Nepal is on the case and on the spot dealing with it. Obviously we will have to find out exactly what happened. It is a deeply, deeply tragic case." |
| Aviation accidents involving small aircraft are not uncommon in mountainous Nepal. In September 2011, 19 people including 16 tourists were killed when a Buddha Air flight crashed on a similar route. | Aviation accidents involving small aircraft are not uncommon in mountainous Nepal. In September 2011, 19 people including 16 tourists were killed when a Buddha Air flight crashed on a similar route. |
| In August 2010, 14 passengers including four Americans, a Briton and a Japanese national were killed after a plane heading to the Everest region crashed as a result of bad weather. In December 2010, all 22 passengers were killed when another plane came down. | In August 2010, 14 passengers including four Americans, a Briton and a Japanese national were killed after a plane heading to the Everest region crashed as a result of bad weather. In December 2010, all 22 passengers were killed when another plane came down. |
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