This article is from the source 'bbc' and was first published or seen on . It will not be checked again for changes.

You can find the current article at its original source at http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/rss/-/1/hi/england/6614347.stm

The article has changed 23 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.

Version 11 Version 12
Wreckage found in helicopter hunt Four bodies found in helicopter
(20 minutes later)
Rescue services searching for a missing helicopter, believed to be carrying a wealthy Chelsea FC supporter, have found a crash site in Cambridgeshire. A businessman flying back from a European Cup football match is believed to have died when a helicopter he owned crashed 10 miles from his home.
Police said wreckage has been found between Wansford and Duddington, west of Peterborough. Honorary vice-president of Chelsea FC Phillip Carter and two friends are missing along with pilot Stephen Holdich, Cambridgeshire Police said.
It was carrying Phillip Carter - an honorary vice president of Chelsea FC - and three other people from a European Cup tie in Liverpool. Det Supt John Raine confirmed four bodies were found in the remains of a Twin Squirrel helicopter.
They had been watching Chelsea play Liverpool in the Champions League game. It was found on its side and virtually intact at Wansford near Peterborough.
Mr Carter is founder of firm Carter & Carter, which specialises in vocational training, and employs more than 500 people in Nottingham. Det Supt Raine said he could not confirm the identities of the people who died.
A company spokeswoman said Mr Carter, the pilot and up to three passengers were on board. Site inspection
The pilot of the helicopter was Stephen Holdich, co-owner of operating company Atlas Helicopters, of Hampshire, a company spokeswoman said. " I...can confirm that the wreckage of a helicopter is within the wood, and that we have identified that there are persons on board and those persons are deceased," he said.
Jonathan Waller, a friend of Phillip Carter's, was also on board the aircraft. "We are waiting for the Air Accident Investigation Branch to carry out their inspection before removing the bodies and carrying out an identification."
The missing people had been watching Chelsea play Liverpool in Champions League semi-final game at Anfield.
Mr Carter is founder of firm Carter & Carter, and one of eight honorary vice presidents of Chelsea FC.
His firm specialises in vocational training, and employs more than 500 people in Nottingham.
The helicopter was piloted by Stephen Holdich, co-owner of operating company Atlas Helicopters, of Hampshire, a company spokeswoman said.
Jonathan Waller, a friend of Mr Carter's, was also on board the aircraft.
They and two other friends and been expected back at Mr Carter's house at about midnight on Tuesday night.They and two other friends and been expected back at Mr Carter's house at about midnight on Tuesday night.
But Mr Waller's mother, Shirley, told BBC News 24 she had not heard from her son, a 42-year-old debt collector from Market Deeping, Lincolnshire, since he set off on Tuesday afternoon But Mr Waller's mother, Shirley, told BBC News 24 she had not heard from her son, a 42-year-old debt collector from Market Deeping, Lincolnshire, since he set off on Tuesday afternoon.
She said: "Jonathan and Bill are very good friends, they've been friends for many years, and they were looking forward to going to the match. Whenever Chelsea played, they'd go by helicopter." She said: "Jonathan and Phill are very good friends, they've been friends for many years, and they were looking forward to going to the match. Whenever Chelsea played, they'd go by helicopter."
She said Mr Waller usually phones her every morning but there was no call on Wednesday. The aircraft took off from John Lennon Airport, Merseyside, at 2300 BST on Tuesday and the last contact was made with it just under two hours later.
The Twin Squirrel aircraft took off from John Lennon Airport, Merseyside, at 2300 BST on Tuesday and the last contact was made with it just under two hours later. The helicopter had been due to land in Thornhaugh, west of Peterborough, where Mr Carter lives.
Extensive search According to Civil Aviation Authority records, he is the joint owner of a twin-engined helicopter that is registered to his home address.
The helicopter was due to land in Thornhaugh, west of Peterborough, where Mr Carter - one of eight honorary vice presidents of Chelsea FC - lives.
Search and rescue helicopters, one from RAF Leconfield in Yorkshire and the other based at Wattisham Airfield in Suffolk, have been searching an area south west of RAF Wittering between Peterborough and Stamford.
According to Civil Aviation Authority records, Mr Carter is the joint owner of a twin-engined helicopter registered to his home address.
A Cambridgeshire Police spokesman said: "The helicopter is thought to have disappeared from radar screens shortly after 0030 BST.
"It is thought to have been somewhere near the Leicestershire / Northamptonshire / Cambridgeshire border when it vanished."