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Four people killed in plane crash at Blackbushe airport Plane linked to Bin Laden family crashes killing four in Hampshire
(about 1 hour later)
Four people died when a business jet crashed at a private airport in Hampshire and ploughed into an adjacent car auction centre, police have said. Four people have died after a business jet linked to the family of Osama Bin Laden crashed at a private airport in Hampshire and ploughed into a car auction centre.
The pilot of the aircraft and the three passengers on board all died, while no one on the ground was killed. The pilot of the aircraft and the three passengers on board all died in the crash on Friday, while no one on the ground was killed, police said.
It emerged that the aircraft was registered to a firm owned by the Bin Laden family, although police would neither confirm nor deny on Friday night whether they were investigating reports that any members of the family were on board.
There were unconfirmed reports that Bin Laden’s sister and stepmother were among the victims.
The Phenom 300, a light aircraft with space for up to nine passengers and thought to be worth £6m, crashed as it attempted to land at Blackbushe airport, seven miles north-west of Farnborough, a spokesman for the airport said.The Phenom 300, a light aircraft with space for up to nine passengers and thought to be worth £6m, crashed as it attempted to land at Blackbushe airport, seven miles north-west of Farnborough, a spokesman for the airport said.
The website Flight Radar, which tracks air traffic, shows a flight matching that description circling the airport, before appearing to come in to land. The flight took off from Milan–Malpensa airport.The website Flight Radar, which tracks air traffic, shows a flight matching that description circling the airport, before appearing to come in to land. The flight took off from Milan–Malpensa airport.
Acting chief inspector Olga Venner, of Hampshire police, speaking from the scene, said: “We can confirm that there were four people on board, including the pilot.Acting chief inspector Olga Venner, of Hampshire police, speaking from the scene, said: “We can confirm that there were four people on board, including the pilot.
“Sadly, there were no survivors. No one on the ground has been injured and we would urge anyone with any information, including pictures or videos, to contact 101.”“Sadly, there were no survivors. No one on the ground has been injured and we would urge anyone with any information, including pictures or videos, to contact 101.”
Venner said police have launched a joint investigation with the Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB).Venner said police have launched a joint investigation with the Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB).
The airport’s spokesman said: “A Phenom 300 jet with four persons on board crashed near the end of the runway around 3.09pm while attempting to make a landing,” he said.The airport’s spokesman said: “A Phenom 300 jet with four persons on board crashed near the end of the runway around 3.09pm while attempting to make a landing,” he said.
“The scene was attended by Blackbushe fire and rescue within minutes, followed by Hampshire fire, police and ambulance units. Emergency services are currently controlling the scene.”“The scene was attended by Blackbushe fire and rescue within minutes, followed by Hampshire fire, police and ambulance units. Emergency services are currently controlling the scene.”
Hampshire fire brigade sent four pumps and a Land Rover to the scene, while South East Coast ambulance service confirmed a “multi-vehicle” response.Hampshire fire brigade sent four pumps and a Land Rover to the scene, while South East Coast ambulance service confirmed a “multi-vehicle” response.
A spokeswoman for the ambulance service said it had received reports that the aircraft missed the runway and crashed into the British Car Auctions site at the airport. Other reports suggested the plane had crashed on or just after takeoff.A spokeswoman for the ambulance service said it had received reports that the aircraft missed the runway and crashed into the British Car Auctions site at the airport. Other reports suggested the plane had crashed on or just after takeoff.
It emerged that the aircraft was registered to a firm owned by the Bin Laden family, although police would neither confirm nor deny on Friday night whether they were investigating reports that any members of the family were on board.
Andrew Thomas, who was paying for a car at the time of impact, said the plane exploded.Andrew Thomas, who was paying for a car at the time of impact, said the plane exploded.
“I saw it when it had just happened, and could see the plane and cars in flames,” he told BBC Surrey. “The plane nosedived into the cars and exploded on impact. I have heard from staff here that four people were on the plane.”“I saw it when it had just happened, and could see the plane and cars in flames,” he told BBC Surrey. “The plane nosedived into the cars and exploded on impact. I have heard from staff here that four people were on the plane.”
Joe Ramos told local station Eagle Radio that the aircraft had clipped the fence of the auction centre.Joe Ramos told local station Eagle Radio that the aircraft had clipped the fence of the auction centre.
“There was a loud bang and my son quickly came into the auction hall saying a plane had gone down. We quickly went back out only to see a private jet had gone over the fence of the airport as it was trying to take off, but in fact it had clipped the fence, spun around and crashed into the cars.”“There was a loud bang and my son quickly came into the auction hall saying a plane had gone down. We quickly went back out only to see a private jet had gone over the fence of the airport as it was trying to take off, but in fact it had clipped the fence, spun around and crashed into the cars.”
Daphne Knowles, 70, who lives nearby, told the GetSurrey news site: “I was in a field with the cattle and I heard an aircraft coming very, very fast from behind me. The engines were screaming far too much and the aircraft was trying to land – I’m a glider pilot and I thought it’s far too low to the ground.Daphne Knowles, 70, who lives nearby, told the GetSurrey news site: “I was in a field with the cattle and I heard an aircraft coming very, very fast from behind me. The engines were screaming far too much and the aircraft was trying to land – I’m a glider pilot and I thought it’s far too low to the ground.
“Two people said they thought it had to swerve to miss another aircraft as it went in, but I didn’t see that myself and can’t confirm, then a huge black cloud of smoke went up.”“Two people said they thought it had to swerve to miss another aircraft as it went in, but I didn’t see that myself and can’t confirm, then a huge black cloud of smoke went up.”
A group of people, believed to be the family of the victims, were escorted to the site by police officers.A group of people, believed to be the family of the victims, were escorted to the site by police officers.
Blackbushe airport provides facilities for private jets and hosts a flying school. It was a originally an RAF base and was once a busy passenger airport before the growth of Gatwick and Heathrow eclipsed it.Blackbushe airport provides facilities for private jets and hosts a flying school. It was a originally an RAF base and was once a busy passenger airport before the growth of Gatwick and Heathrow eclipsed it.