Latest news with #AirAccidentsInvestigationBranch


Daily Mirror
a day ago
- General
- Daily Mirror
Thorganby crash: Plane was performing aerobatics moments before fatal smash
A light aircraft which crashed in a field - killing two young men - was performing aerobatics moments before the disaster, investigators said yesterday. 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.


Metro
a day ago
- Metro
Plane was 'performing aerobatics' before fatal crash in field, say investigators
Two men were killed after their small plane performed aerobatics before nosediving into a field, air crash investigators say. Matthew Bird, 21, from Spofforth, and Oliver Dawes, 24, from Burley in Wharfedale, were the pilot and passenger of the two-seater Cessna light aircraft that came down in Thorganby, Selby. Both men were pronounced dead at the scene on 28 July last year. In an update on Monday, the Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) said: 'The aircraft was performing aerobatic manoeuvres north of Breighton Airfield. 'It entered a steep descent and struck the ground in a field near Thorganby. The pilot and passenger were fatally injured. 'The investigation is ongoing, and the final report will be published in due course.' In a statement at the time, Matthew's family said: 'Yesterday we lost our son, a brother, grandson, nephew, cousin and friend. 'Matthew meant so much to so many. We are utterly heartbroken but he will live on in our hearts as we cherish the incredibly special memories he's left us with.' Oliver's family said: '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.'


ITV News
a day ago
- ITV News
AAIB says plane was 'performing aerobatics' before fatal Thorganby crash
A plane crash which killed the pilot and his passenger happened as the aircraft was "performing aerobatic manoeuvres", investigators have said. Matthew Bird, 21, and his 24-year-old passenger Oliver Dawes were in a two-seater Cessna light aircraft, which came down at Thorganby, near Selby, North Yorkshire, on 28 July last year. In an update on its inquiry, the Air Accidents Investigation Branch said the plane was flying north of Breighton Airfield when the accident happened. A spokesperson said: "The aircraft was performing aerobatic manoeuvres north of Breighton Airfield. "It entered a steep descent and struck the ground in a field near Thorganby. The pilot and passenger were fatally injured." Its investigation is ongoing, and the final report will be published in due course, it said. In a statement issued at the time, Mr Bird's family said he "meant so much to so many". They added: "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' family said he was a "dearly loved son, cousin, nephew and friend". They 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.'


North Wales Chronicle
5 days ago
- Health
- North Wales Chronicle
Southend Airport plane crash pilots named
They were captain Danny Marco Franken and first officer Floris Christiaan Rhee, flight operator Zeusch Aviation said. They are understood to be Dutch. The plane, chartered for a patient to be transported for treatment in the UK, crashed within the airport boundary shortly after take-off on July 13. It is understood that the patient had been dropped off and the plane was bound for its base in the Netherlands when the accident happened. Marco Rietvelt, managing director of Zeusch Aviation, said: 'Danny and Floris were not only highly skilled pilots, but also greatly valued and popular members of our team. 'Their passion for flying was matched by their dedication to their colleagues and the important missions they carried out. 'We are all deeply shocked and saddened by this tragic loss. 'Our priority is to support the families of those lost, as well as our employees, during this incredibly difficult time. 'We are also fully committed to assisting the authorities in their ongoing investigation.' The other two people onboard the plane – a female nurse and a male doctor – also died in the crash. The nurse was named in reports as 31-year-old Maria Fernanda Rojaz Ortiz, a German national originally from Chile, and the doctor was named as German national Dr Matthias Eyl, 46. An inquiry by the Air Accidents Investigation Branch into what happened is ongoing.


ITV News
5 days ago
- Health
- ITV News
Dutch pilots in deadly Southend plane crash are named as firm pays tribute to 'highly skilled' pair
Tributes have been paid to two pilots who were killed in a plane crashed at Southend Airport. Captain Danny Marco Franken and first officer Floris Christiaan Rhee, understood to be Dutch nationals, and were flying a medical plane that had been chartered for a patient who needed treatment in the UK. They had successfully dropped off the patient and were returning to the base in the Netherlands on 13 July when the crash happened, killing all four people on board. Alongside Mr Franken and Mr Rhee, were 31-year-old nurse Maria Fernanda Rojaz Ortiz, originally from Chile, and German doctor Dr Matthias Eyl, 46. Marco Rietvelt, managing director of Zeusch Aviation, the company which owned the plane, said: "Danny and Floris were not only highly skilled pilots, but also greatly valued and popular members of our team. "Their passion for flying was matched by their dedication to their colleagues and the important missions they carried out. "We are all deeply shocked and saddened by this tragic loss. "Our priority is to support the families of those lost, as well as our employees, during this incredibly difficult time. "We are also fully committed to assisting the authorities in their ongoing investigation." The inquiry by the Air Accidents Investigation Branch into what happened continues.