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Two planes in fatal mid-air crash Two planes in fatal mid-air crash
(9 minutes later)
Two light aircraft have crashed in a fatal mid-air collision near the seaside resort of Porthcawl, Bridgend. Two light aircraft have been involved in a fatal mid-air collision near the seaside resort of Porthcawl, Bridgend.
The Ministry of Defence said there were casualties in the incident at 1100 GMT, although the number of dead is unconfirmed.The Ministry of Defence said there were casualties in the incident at 1100 GMT, although the number of dead is unconfirmed.
The wreckage is half a mile apart, with some in sand dunes near Kenfig nature reserve.The wreckage is half a mile apart, with some in sand dunes near Kenfig nature reserve.
One eyewitness told the BBC she saw two planes hit each other in the sky, before she heard an explosion.One eyewitness told the BBC she saw two planes hit each other in the sky, before she heard an explosion.
Aerial footage of the air crash scene near PorthcawlAerial footage of the air crash scene near Porthcawl
Reena Callingham told the BBC news website: "I was in the garden putting the clothes on the line and I could hear a light aircraft. Reena Callingham told the BBC news website she was putting out her washing when she saw two planes flying close together.
"I looked up because I couldn't see it and thought to myself that it was high up. "I just couldn't believe it. At first there wasn't an explosion straight away but then there was. They just went down," she said.
"And then I could hear another one and I could see that one too and I thought to myself that I didn't realise they flew so close together.
"I watched them for a few minutes and then the second one just hit him.
'Aeroplane wreckage'
"I just couldn't believe it. At first there wasn't an explosion straight away but then there was. They just went down.
"I couldn't speak and I rang the police. My heart is still beating so hard, it was a big shock. You can see smoke now but I don't know exactly where they are."
A local councillor Jeff Tildesley said the wreckage is in the sand dunes at Mawdlam.
He said: "I am able to see some evidence of the aeroplane wreckage surrounded by police vehicles, we have heard the pilot jumped out.
"We are hearing there is one fatality but that is unconfirmed, I am only able to see the wreckage of one plane.
There are fatalities but it hasn't been confirmed how many as yet South Wales Police spokesman
"I am on the wall of St Mary Magdalene church. There are lots of vehicles here and police have set up a diversion, I am able to see further in the distance where there is one ambulances and two fire engines, I can hear the sirens."
Gareth Maund, landlord of the Prince of Wales pub added: "Two military light aircraft have collided over the Kenfig area.
"I first heard about it when my son phoned and said a plane was down.
"I can see very little from here, there is debris in the fields.
"Search and rescue helicopters been going round the fields.
"I took a couple of fire brigade people down to the first site, it's a couple of hundred yards away. I stayed in the wagon. All of the emergency services are here now.
"Quite a lot of onlookers around, there are lot of shocked people here. Police are using the pub as a centre," he added.
A Welsh Ambulance Service spokesman said they were called to what is believed to be a mid-air collision.
A South Wales Police spokesman said: "We received reports shortly before 11am today that two light aircraft had landed in the vicinity near Kenfig nature reserve, Porthcawl.A South Wales Police spokesman said: "We received reports shortly before 11am today that two light aircraft had landed in the vicinity near Kenfig nature reserve, Porthcawl.
"Officers are attending at the scene. Inquiries are ongoing to establish what has taken place. No further information is available at this stage."Officers are attending at the scene. Inquiries are ongoing to establish what has taken place. No further information is available at this stage.
"There was a collision involving two light aircraft, an aircraft collision investigation is underway."There was a collision involving two light aircraft, an aircraft collision investigation is underway.
"There are fatalities but it hasn't been confirmed how many as yet.""There are fatalities but it hasn't been confirmed how many as yet."
Officers are working at contact the next of kin of those who died in the crash.Officers are working at contact the next of kin of those who died in the crash.
A casualty bureau number has been set up for members of the public to contact if they are concerned relatives may be involved, the number is 0800 096 1011.A casualty bureau number has been set up for members of the public to contact if they are concerned relatives may be involved, the number is 0800 096 1011.
BBC Wales Today's Nicola Smith reports from the air crash scene
A full investigation in conjunction with the Air Accidents Investigation Branch is ongoing.A full investigation in conjunction with the Air Accidents Investigation Branch is ongoing.
The spokesman added that the aircraft have landed in a sand dunes area, and not in any populated areas.The spokesman added that the aircraft have landed in a sand dunes area, and not in any populated areas.
Bridgend Superintendent Tim Jones said: "A full investigation is ongoing to establish the circumstances of this tragic incident.Bridgend Superintendent Tim Jones said: "A full investigation is ongoing to establish the circumstances of this tragic incident.
"Both aircrafts have landed in different areas of the sand dunes near to Kenfig Hill Nature Reserve, Porthcawl."Both aircrafts have landed in different areas of the sand dunes near to Kenfig Hill Nature Reserve, Porthcawl.
"We cannot at this stage confirm further details of the aircraft involved or details of any the aircrafts' occupants."We cannot at this stage confirm further details of the aircraft involved or details of any the aircrafts' occupants.
Emergency services at the scene of the crash
"A cordon has been established and officers are at the scene.""A cordon has been established and officers are at the scene."
Members of the public are asked to avoid the area to allow emergency services to carry out their duties.Members of the public are asked to avoid the area to allow emergency services to carry out their duties.
"The possibility exists that debris may be strewn across a wide area and we would appeal to members of the public to leave it in place and contact us so we may arrange recovery and examination," he said."The possibility exists that debris may be strewn across a wide area and we would appeal to members of the public to leave it in place and contact us so we may arrange recovery and examination," he said.
There are two crash sites a few hundred yards apart on the road from Porthcawl to Mawdlam. There were two crash sites a few hundred yards apart on the road from Porthcawl to Mawdlam.
Emergency services at the scene of the crash BBC Wales Today's Nicola Smith reports from the air crash scene
Leigh Griffiths, 36, a carpenter from Kenfig Hill was working in a house next to the Prince of Wales Pub when he heard a "big wallop" and ran out the back.
"There was a section of wing had hit the garage, so we ran out. What we found was another piece of debris.
"We saw the smoke coming from the dunes."
He and a friend ran over, where other people had already reached the scene.
'Scrambled'
He said they found a body.
"Somebody said there was a second plane and we had seen the debris so we ran, hoping we could do something," he said.
He said there was another body there.
They were later told the dead people had been accompanied by others, he said.
A Ministry of Defence spokesman said: "At this stage, we cannot confirm the type of aircraft involved or where they may have come from.A Ministry of Defence spokesman said: "At this stage, we cannot confirm the type of aircraft involved or where they may have come from.
"Two rescue helicopters were scrambled, along with the South Wales Police air support unit."Two rescue helicopters were scrambled, along with the South Wales Police air support unit.
"The two rescue helicopters are a Sea King from RAF Chivenor in Devon and the Coastguard helicopter from Portland. Civilian police, fire and ambulance services are also in attendance.""The two rescue helicopters are a Sea King from RAF Chivenor in Devon and the Coastguard helicopter from Portland. Civilian police, fire and ambulance services are also in attendance."
Porthcawl and Port Talbot coastguard teams and the Central Beacons mountain rescue team have also been called to help. Porthcawl and Port Talbot coastguard teams and the Central Beacons mountain rescue team were also called to help.