Thorganby crash: Plane was performing aerobatics moments before fatal smash
Pilot Matthew Bird, 21, and 24-year-old passenger Oliver Dawes died after the two-seater Cessna FRA150L aircraft careered into a field near Thorganby, North Yorkshire. Both families said they were "utterly heartbroken" following the tragedies, which are now being investigated by the Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB).
And yesterday, the AAIB confirmed the plane had been "performing aerobatic manoeuvres north of Breighton Airfield" before the crash. The new report continued the aircraft "entered a steep descent and struck the ground in a field near Thorganby" fatally injuring the pilot and passenger.
"The investigation is ongoing, and the final report will be published in due course," the statement added. It was released on the one-year anniversary of the crash, which happened at around 9.50am on Sunday July 28, 2024.
Major update in Air India crash probe references key issue thought to be its cause
Breighton Airfield, a private aerodrome primarily used for general aviation flying, is located on a former Royal Air Force station built in the early 1940s. Five people were injured in a helicopter crash, just inside East Yorkshire, at the airfield on July 17, 2016.
And following last year's fatalities, there was a huge outpour of grief shown towards Mr Bird, from Burley in Wharfedale, West Yorkshire, and Mr Dawes, of Spofforth, North Yorkshire. Their families issued statements to the media via North Yorkshire Police in the days after the collision.
Mr Bird's family said he 'meant so much to so many', adding: 'We are utterly heartbroken but he will live on in our hearts as we cherish the incredibly special memories he's left us with.'
Mr Dawes was described by his family as a 'dearly loved son, cousin, nephew and friend'. The statement added: "Oliver will continue to live on in our hearts and memories as the kind, generous, hardworking and fun man he had become. We will miss him every day for the rest of our lives, we are heartbroken."
The full report into the crash will be published later this year, it is thought.
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Independent
4 days ago
- The Independent
Why Air India flight to London was forced to abort take-off
An Air India flight from Delhi to London was forced to abort its take-off due to a suspected technical issue. Flight AI2017, scheduled to depart on Thursday, 31 July, returned to the bay after the cockpit crew discontinued the take-off run as a precaution. Passengers were asked to disembark, and an alternative aircraft was subsequently deployed to complete the journey to London. This incident follows a separate Air India flight crash on 12 June, which was bound for London Gatwick. That crash in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, resulted in the deaths of 241 people on board and at least 29 on the ground, with an investigation into its causes ongoing.
The Independent
4 days ago
- The Independent
Air India flight to London aborts take-off due to technical issue weeks after fatal crash
An Air India flight bound for London was forced to abort take-off due to a suspected technical issue. Flight AI2017, which was scheduled to depart Delhi for London on Thursday (31 July) was brought to a halt after the cockpit crew decided to 'discontinue the take-off run'. Passengers on board the Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner were asked to disembark as precautionary checks were carried out. Air India later deployed an alternative aircraft to complete the journey to London. An Air India spokesperson said: 'Flight AI2017, operating from Delhi to London on 31 July, returned to the bay due to a suspected technical issue. 'The cockpit crew decided to discontinue the takeoff run following standard operating procedures and brought the aircraft back for precautionary checks. 'An alternative aircraft was deployed to fly the passengers to London.' The incident comes just weeks after an Air India flight bound for London Gatwick struck a medical college hostel in Ahmedabad minutes after take-off, killing 241 people. Indian aviation officials confirmed the pilot issued multiple distress calls before the Gatwick -bound flight crashed in Gujarat state on 12 June, killing 241 people on board and at least 29 more on the ground. 'Thrust not achieved... falling... Mayday! Mayday! Mayday!' the pilot is reported to have said moments before the aircraft lost height and erupted in flames. There were 230 passengers and 12 crew members on board, including 169 Indian nationals, 53 Britons, seven Portuguese citizens and one Canadian, according to Air India. Alongside the formal investigation, the Indian government has set up a high-level committee to examine the causes leading to the crash. The committee will focus on formulating procedures to prevent and handle aircraft emergencies in the future, the Ministry of Civil Aviation said. Air India and the government are looking at several aspects of the crash, including issues linked to its engine thrust, flaps, and why the landing gear remained open as the plane took off and then came down.
Daily Mirror
4 days ago
- Daily Mirror
Air India flight to London aborts take-off in Delhi after 'technical' scare
The Air India flight from Delhi to London returned back to the airport and all passengers had to disembark as the pilot was not prepared to go ahead with the long-haul flight An Air India plane aborted take off after a technical scare, just weeks after another of the airline 's planes crashed. The flight from Delhi to London returned back to the airport and all passengers had to disembark after the pilot was unhappy to go ahead with the long-haul flight. In a statement following the incident on Thursday, the airline said the cockpit crew of the Boeing 787-9 decided to "discontinue the takeoff" so checks could be carried out. The Air India spokesman said: "Flight AI2017, operating from Delhi to London on July 31, returned to the bay due to a suspected technical issue. The cockpit crew decided to discontinue the takeoff run following standard operating procedures and brought the aircraft back for precautionary checks." It comes after horror moment a Japan tsunami sends gigantic wall of water smashing into coast. The Air India statement added: "An alternative aircraft is being deployed to fly the passengers to London at the earliest. Our ground staff is extending all support and care to the guests to minimise inconvenience caused due to this unexpected delay." The aborted flight comes after doomed Air India flight 171 crashed in June killing all but one of the people onboard. The Boeing 787 jetliner - bound for Gatwick Airport - careered into a medical college in Ahmedabad, India, moments after take-off. Footage of the UK-bound plane showed it plummeting towards the ground before erupting into a huge fireball. The clip appeared to have been taken from a nearby building and shows the aircraft swiftly losing height. As it sinks lower to the ground, an explosion suddenly erupts from the plane. A giant fireball as thick, black smoke billowed out of the crash site. Other images and videos of the crash show a blanket of smoke covering the area of Ahmedabad as emergency services rushed to the scene. The flight departed from the Sardar Vallabhbhai Patel International Airport in Ahmedabad but crashed just moments after taking off. Authorities have since launched a probe into what caused the crash. Early indications found evidence that an emergency generator may have been the aircraft's primary power source at the time it went down. One leading theory is that the plane suffered a dual engine failure, though what triggered this is yet to be determined.
