Two Britons killed in plane crash in French Alps
Written by News on 25/07/2019
Two British men have been killed in a light aircraft crash in southeastern France during a “trip of a lifetime”.
Andrew Buck, 37, and an 18-year-old who has not been named were travelling in a leisure aircraft when it crashed in a valley near Larche, in the French Alps, on Wednesday.
The aircraft, which was being flown by Mr Buck, was part of a group of several planes which had set off from Eshott Airfield in Northumberland on Sunday and were heading for Malta.
Mr Buck’s sister, Lisa Crowe, who lives in Canada, has launched a Gofundme page to help pay the costs of bringing his body back to Britain and his funeral.
She said: “My parents and I received the incomprehensible news that my little brother Andrew was tragically killed in an accident while flying over the French Alps…”
“My husband Steve and I are beyond grateful for everyone’s kind words and support at this time and I know my parents feel the same.”
Purple Aviation, which owned the plane, said that, contrary to initial reports, there was no mid-air collision.
It said a second plane crashed during an emergency landing but the pilot walked away unharmed.
It said the trip was not organised by the firm and was a private expedition, including two of its company directors, Richard Pike and Sam Woodgate.
Mr Pike said: “This was a group of experienced pilots and close friends embarking on the trip of a lifetime, which has been planned over the last year.”
He said: “Everyone involved has been devastated by this tragic accident.
“We’d like to pass on our sincere condolences to the families of those who died. We have lost two brilliant friends.”
The passenger in the plane, who also died, was another close friend, the company said.
Footage of the trip has been handed over to French officials investigating the incident, it added.
Olivier Jacob, prefect of Alpes de Haute Provence, said 22 firefighters, mountain police, a police helicopter and paramedics attended the scene.
(c) Sky News 2019: Two Britons killed in plane crash in French Alps
