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Plane crash destroys Kent homes Jet crash sets Kent homes alight
(about 1 hour later)
A small plane carrying two pilots and three passengers has crashed in Farnborough in Kent severely damaging a house and garage. Two pilots and three passengers are feared dead after a plane crashed in Farnborough in Kent severely damaging a house and garage.
Flames and a large plume of black smoke billowed from homes in Romsey Close after the Cessna Citation jet came down at about 1430BST near Darrick Wood.Flames and a large plume of black smoke billowed from homes in Romsey Close after the Cessna Citation jet came down at about 1430BST near Darrick Wood.
The plane's occupants are unaccounted for and police said a few people suffered minor injuries on the ground.The plane's occupants are unaccounted for and police said a few people suffered minor injuries on the ground.
Residents in the most severely damaged house were thought to be away. Residents in the most severely damaged house were thought to be on holiday.
A man named as John told how he was piloting another plane at Biggin Hill when he heard a mayday call from a Cessna come over to the control tower. Emergency call
Air accident inspectors are at the scene and a full investigation into the crash is under way, the Department of Transport said.
Ambulance workers said they were working on a "recovery operation" but no-one could approach the aircraft because damage had made the site so unsafe.
As I turned off the runway, I looked back and saw the plane drop out of the sky JonPilot at Biggin Hill In pictures: Plane crashAs I turned off the runway, I looked back and saw the plane drop out of the sky JonPilot at Biggin Hill In pictures: Plane crash
Ian Todd, Assistant Director of Operations for the London Ambulance Service, said the accident could have been much worse.
"We are very grateful that the plane has clearly come down on the periphery of that area and that there hasn't been a greater loss of life."
Two people were taken to the Princess Royal Hospital, Farnborough suffering from shock.
Eight fire engines and 40 firefighters are at the scene.
Andrew Walters, chairman of nearby Biggin Hill Airport, said the commercial flight which was en-route to France had just taken off when the pilot made an emergency call and asked for permission to land again.
"Unfortunately it crashed before reaching the airport," he said.
'We're going down'
A pilot named as John told how he was landing another plane at the airport when he heard a mayday call from a Cessna come over to the control tower.
He told the BBC: "I was about thirty seconds from touchdown and I heard a mayday call.He told the BBC: "I was about thirty seconds from touchdown and I heard a mayday call.
"(The pilot) reported severe engine vibrations. You could hear the alarms in the cockpit."(The pilot) reported severe engine vibrations. You could hear the alarms in the cockpit.
"The pilot came back over the radio a second or two later and said 'We're going down, we're going down'."The pilot came back over the radio a second or two later and said 'We're going down, we're going down'.
"The radio stayed live, and as I turned off the runway I looked back and I saw the plane basically drop out of the sky."The radio stayed live, and as I turned off the runway I looked back and I saw the plane basically drop out of the sky.
"And then the radio went dead and black smoke came up from over the hill.""And then the radio went dead and black smoke came up from over the hill."
Black smoke plume Local residents heard a "loud roar" and saw the plane flying along at a "funny angle" with its tail down and nose up. In the aftermath of the crash, they said the air was thick with the smell of fuel.
An eyewitness, Paul Daisley, said: "We heard a light aircraft coming across as if it was having trouble putting its wheels up. Matthew Wincott, 37, who lives opposite the site, said: "I'd just finished lunch when I heard an almighty roar.
"The wheels wouldn't come down and it was dropping rather rapid[ly], as it came across the tennis centre. And then we just saw a big plume of black smoke go up in the air." "I looked out of the back window and saw this stunning jet coming into view.
Local resident Karl Mills, told Sky News: "It was the loudest noise I've ever heard. All you could see was a big ball of fire, and smoke billowing over the house." "It was banking slightly and the wheels were definitely up. I ran out of the front of the house. It just hit the ground and burst into flames.
Another eyewitness Katherine Simnett told the BBC she believed the house was empty, and residents next door left safely. "It was absolute carnage. I couldn't get anywhere near the plane, but I could feel the heat."
She said roads in the crash area were closed and the smell of fuel was heavy in the air. 'Away on holiday'
Nearby Farnborough Hospital said it was on standby to take any casualties. Another eyewitness, Jamie Foot, 17, said: "I was sitting on the settee watching TV with my sister and the aeroplane came over the top of the garage.
A spokesperson from the Department of Transport says the Air Accident Investigation Branch are launching a full investigation into every aspect of the crash and the first inspectors are already on the scene. "There was a massive explosion and a big fireball and smokeball went up in the air."
Christine Diamond, who lives next door to the house which bore the brunt of the damage said the owners, Pat and Ed Harman, were away on holiday when the incident happened.
"They are going to be absolutely devastated by this, but I'm just so glad that they weren't inside at the time," she said.
Have you witnessed the plane crash? Were you in the area? Tell us your experience using the form below.
Have you witnessed the plane crash? Were you in the area? Tell us your experience using the form below.
You can also send pictures and video to: yourpics@bbc.co.uk or MMS to 61124.You can also send pictures and video to: yourpics@bbc.co.uk or MMS to 61124.
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