Three die as planes collide in mid-air near London
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.The pilots of two light aircraft and a child passenger were killed after their planes collided in mid-air near London yesterday afternoon.
The pilots of two light aircraft and a child passenger were killed after their planes collided in mid-air near London yesterday afternoon.
The aircraft crashed into fields close to Hastingwood village, near Harlow in Essex, after colliding as they prepared to land at North Weald airfield at about 5.25pm.
One of the aircraft involved was a Russian-built, single-seater Yak aerobatics plane belonging to an air display team based at the airfield.
Seven aircraft in the team had been practising over the area yesterday afternoon, but the pilot killed in the crash was returning to the airfield after visiting friends.
The other aircraft, which was carrying its male pilot and the child, was a privately owned Cessna 172 also based at North Weald.
They crashed in fields about 100 metres away from houses on Mill Street, leaving debris scattered around the area
The police cordoned off the immediate area, as emergency services including an RAF Sea King helicopter and an air ambulance arrived on the scene.
One witness, Richard Dunmore, 21, saw the crash from his home in Mill Street. He said: "One hit the other from the side, at an angle. I saw a wing come off and spiral downwards.
"Then the two planes just fell out of the sky. One fell into a field about 100 yards away. The other crashed in another field a bit further away.
"I ran over with a neighbour to see if we could help. There was no fire. They had hit the ground so hard they were buried about six or seven feet below the surface. No one could have escaped alive."
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments