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| Air crash deaths inquiry begins | |
| (10 minutes later) | |
| Air crash investigators are examining a site in the Midlands where two people were killed in a collision involving two light aircraft. | |
| One of the dead is Peter Leigh, 60, of Baldwin's Gate, Staffordshire, BBC Radio Stoke has learned. | One of the dead is Peter Leigh, 60, of Baldwin's Gate, Staffordshire, BBC Radio Stoke has learned. |
| The plane crashed into a field near Blithfield Reservoir in Staffordshire on Sunday. | |
| The other aircraft landed at East Midlands Airport where three people on board scrambled to safety. | The other aircraft landed at East Midlands Airport where three people on board scrambled to safety. |
| Cumbria Police officer Sgt Rupert Johnston was among those to survive. | Cumbria Police officer Sgt Rupert Johnston was among those to survive. |
| 'Collisions rare' | 'Collisions rare' |
| He said: "We were flying from Cark, near Flookburgh, to Cranfield in Bedfordshire. | He said: "We were flying from Cark, near Flookburgh, to Cranfield in Bedfordshire. |
| "At around midday, as we were flying over the Midlands, we were hit by what we now know was another plane." | "At around midday, as we were flying over the Midlands, we were hit by what we now know was another plane." |
| He added: "My thoughts are with the families of the two who died. | He added: "My thoughts are with the families of the two who died. |
| "We were on a pre-arranged trip with my son James, aged 10, and my friend the pilot Mike Carruthers, who is also from Cumbria." | |
| The Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) is leading the crash examinations. | |
| Tim Atkinson, of the AAIB, said a detailed technical examination of the scene would take place on Monday. | |
| He said it was too early to say exactly what had caused the collision. Weather conditions were clear and visibility was fine. | He said it was too early to say exactly what had caused the collision. Weather conditions were clear and visibility was fine. |
| "Aircraft do collide," said Mr Atkinson. "Mid-air collisions are mercifully very rare, a great deal of general aviation is done on the principle that the pilot keeps a good look-out." | "Aircraft do collide," said Mr Atkinson. "Mid-air collisions are mercifully very rare, a great deal of general aviation is done on the principle that the pilot keeps a good look-out." |
| 'Bodies seen' | 'Bodies seen' |
| 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. |
| Staffordshire Police said they were called to the field off Lea Lane in Admaston where the plane, a two-seater Luscombe Silvaire, came down, about 25 miles away from East Midlands Airport. | |
| 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 other 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 other 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. |