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University names air crash victim | University names air crash victim |
(about 1 hour later) | |
One of the victims of a light aircraft crash in the French Alps has been named as Dr Shimon Awerbuch, an Israeli-born US national who lived in East Sussex. | One of the victims of a light aircraft crash in the French Alps has been named as Dr Shimon Awerbuch, an Israeli-born US national who lived in East Sussex. |
His identity was confirmed by the University of Sussex, where Dr Awerbuch was a senior fellow in the science and technology policy research unit. | His identity was confirmed by the University of Sussex, where Dr Awerbuch was a senior fellow in the science and technology policy research unit. |
He was the pilot of a Piper Seneca which crashed in France on Saturday. | |
Two passengers, understood by the university to be Dr Awerbuch's partner and son, were also killed in the crash. | |
French police said on Monday that an American woman and child were the other victims. | |
He was a very good colleague and friend Professor Gordon Mackerron | |
Dr Awerbuch, who lived in Hove, flew from Shoreham Airport in West Sussex on Saturday. | |
Professor Gordon Mackerron, a colleague of his at the university-based Sussex Energy Group, said: "We knew the three of them were planning to leave Shoreham on Saturday to go on holiday in France. | |
"We're obviously very shocked and saddened because all three of them have died so suddenly and tragically." | |
A University of Sussex spokesman said they were given official confirmation of Dr Awerbuch's death by the American Embassy in Paris on Monday evening. | |
"Our understanding is that the other victims were his partner and his son," the spokesman added. | |
Rescue teams | Rescue teams |
Prof Mackerron said he had worked with 60-year-old Dr Awerbuch for two years. | |
"He was a very good colleague and friend," he said. | |
"He was extremely supportive, always friendly, very outgoing and very enthusiastic." | |
The aircraft was bound for Cannes when Dr Awerbuch contacted air traffic control in France to say he was having trouble in a snow storm. | |
The plane disappeared from radar screens moments later. | |
A mountain rescue team working on foot eventually found the crash scene, at Grand Veymont, on Sunday. | A mountain rescue team working on foot eventually found the crash scene, at Grand Veymont, on Sunday. |
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. |
The Piper Seneca was not registered in Britain, but John Haffenden, manager of Shoreham Airport, said: "It certainly flew regularly from here to other airports both in the UK and abroad." | The Piper Seneca was not registered in Britain, but John Haffenden, manager of Shoreham Airport, said: "It certainly flew regularly from here to other airports both in the UK and abroad." |