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Fatal air crash inquiry continues | Fatal air crash inquiry continues |
(about 2 hours later) | |
Investigations are continuing into a light aircraft crash in the French Alps in which three members of a family died after taking off from West Sussex. | Investigations are continuing into a light aircraft crash in the French Alps in which three members of a family died after taking off from West Sussex. |
The twin-engine Piper PA-34 Seneca lost control in a snow storm and crashed into a mountain in Grand Veymont. | The twin-engine Piper PA-34 Seneca lost control in a snow storm and crashed into a mountain in Grand Veymont. |
The aircraft took off from Shoreham Airport on Saturday for Cannes. | |
French police said the pilot was an Israeli-born man with US nationality, while the other victims were an American woman and child. | |
The Foreign Office in London had earlier said it believed the three people were American. | |
The plane certainly flew regularly from here to other airports both in the UK and abroad Shoreham Airport manager John Haffenden | |
The family, thought to have been living in the UK, were found at the crash scene on Sunday. | |
Shoreham Airport manager, John Haffenden, said: "I knew who they were but I haven't been given any information to allow their identities to be released. | Shoreham Airport manager, John Haffenden, said: "I knew who they were but I haven't been given any information to allow their identities to be released. |
"The plane certainly flew regularly from here to other airports both in the UK and abroad." | "The plane certainly flew regularly from here to other airports both in the UK and abroad." |
He said the airport was co-operating with the authorities in the UK, France and America. | He said the airport was co-operating with the authorities in the UK, France and America. |
The aircraft was not registered in Britain. | The aircraft was not registered in Britain. |
Poor weather | Poor weather |
The pilot contacted air traffic control on Saturday afternoon to say he was in trouble, but the plane disappeared from radar screens moments later. | The pilot contacted air traffic control on Saturday afternoon to say he was in trouble, but the plane disappeared from radar screens moments later. |
Rescue helicopters were immediately scrambled to try to locate it, but could not begin a full search until later that evening because of poor weather conditions. | Rescue helicopters were immediately scrambled to try to locate it, but could not begin a full search until later that evening because of poor weather conditions. |
The operation involved up to 100 people and at least five helicopters. | |
The crash scene was eventually found by a mountain rescue team on foot. | The crash scene was eventually found by a mountain rescue team on foot. |
The plane appeared to have hit a rock face and broken apart on impact, killing all three on board instantly. | The plane appeared to have hit a rock face and broken apart on impact, killing all three on board instantly. |