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| Version 0 | Version 1 |
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| Air crash deaths probe to start | Air crash deaths probe to start |
| (about 1 hour later) | |
| Air crash investigators are due to begin an examination of a site in the Midlands where two people died in a collision involving two light aircraft. | Air crash investigators are due to begin an examination of a site in the Midlands where two people died in a collision involving two light aircraft. |
| The pair died when the plane they were in crashed into a field near Blithfield Reservoir in Staffordshire on Sunday. | The pair died when the plane they were in crashed into a field near Blithfield Reservoir in Staffordshire on Sunday. |
| The other aircraft managed to land at East Midlands Airport in Leicestershire where the three people on board scrambled to safety. | The other aircraft managed to land at East Midlands Airport in Leicestershire where the three people on board scrambled to safety. |
| The Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) is to lead crash examinations. | |
| Staffordshire Police said they were called to the field off Lea Lane in Admaston where the plane, a two-seater Luscombe Silvaire, came down, around 25 miles away from East Midlands Airport. | |
| 'Bodies seen' | 'Bodies seen' |
| A farmer who spotted the wreckage said the plane had caught fire and he alerted the emergency services. | A farmer who spotted the wreckage said the plane had caught fire and he alerted the emergency services. |
| Michael Sargeant, the 64-year-old owner of Rectory Farm, said: "I saw smoke down my field. I went down in a Land Rover, I pulled right up to it. The plane was burning but almost burned out. | Michael Sargeant, the 64-year-old owner of Rectory Farm, said: "I saw smoke down my field. I went down in a Land Rover, I pulled right up to it. The plane was burning but almost burned out. |
| "I could see bodies there but I could see there was nothing I could do. I came straight back and rang 999." | "I could see bodies there but I could see there was nothing I could do. I came straight back and rang 999." |
| In a statement the West Midlands Ambulance Service said: "The service despatched a rapid response vehicle, an ambulance officer, a doctor, an ambulance and a team of community first responders to the scene immediately. | In a statement the West Midlands Ambulance Service said: "The service despatched a rapid response vehicle, an ambulance officer, a doctor, an ambulance and a team of community first responders to the scene immediately. |
| "On arrival, two people were confirmed deceased at the scene by ambulance service staff. | "On arrival, two people were confirmed deceased at the scene by ambulance service staff. |
| "The identities of the two people have not been revealed." | "The identities of the two people have not been revealed." |
| Tim Atkinson, from the Air Accident Investigation Branch, said a "detailed technical examination" of the crash scene would begin on Monday morning. | Tim Atkinson, from the Air Accident Investigation Branch, said a "detailed technical examination" of the crash scene would begin on Monday morning. |
| He added: "The weather conditions were good." | He added: "The weather conditions were good." |
| He also confirmed the planes were on "private leisure flights" and neither was being directed by air traffic control. | He also confirmed the planes were on "private leisure flights" and neither was being directed by air traffic control. |
| The aircraft was not immediately thought to have been badly damaged in the landing and the three people on board were being checked over by medics, added the spokeswoman. | The aircraft was not immediately thought to have been badly damaged in the landing and the three people on board were being checked over by medics, added the spokeswoman. |
| The runway was closed after the emergency landing. | The runway was closed after the emergency landing. |
| Nine flights were diverted to Birmingham International Airport and two were cancelled while the runway was closed. It re-opened shortly after 1500 GMT. | Nine flights were diverted to Birmingham International Airport and two were cancelled while the runway was closed. It re-opened shortly after 1500 GMT. |