Bodies to be recovered from plane wreck

9:00am Monday 31st March 2008

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THE bodies of three passengers and two crew who died when a plane crashed into houses in Farnborough could be recovered today.

A twin-engine private jet crashed into numbers 4 and 5 Romsey Close yesterday afternoon after the pilot of the jet reported a mechanical malfunction.

All five people on board the Cessna Citation jet were killed when it crashed into the houses, demolishing one house and severely damaging the garage of another.

There was no-one in number 5 Romsey Close at the time of the crash and the residents are believed to be away on holiday.

What remains of the wreckage of the plane - which was consumed by a huge fireball - remains embedded in the house.

Overnight emergency services continued to work at the scene to make it safe and cordons remained in place overnight.

Firefighters were putting water on the wreckage of the plane and building during the night.

And a decision will be made this morning about taking out the aircraft and removing the bodies, if the building can be stabilised.

The accident happened at 2.37pm yesterday - just four minutes after the regular domestic flight to Pau in France had taken off from Biggin Hill Airport.

The pilot called a mayday and was trying to return to the airport when the plane went down.

Five men, including two pilots, were shown on the flight manifest.

Police have not yet formally identified them but say their next-of-kin have been informed and family liaison officers have been assigned to the families.

National news organisations have identified two of the passengers on board the flight as ex-touring car racer David Leslie and racing team owner Richard Lloyd.

None on the ground was killed or seriously injured in the crash.

Ambulance crews from London and Kent treated people at the scene for shock and minor injuries.

And two elderly people who were visiting number 4 Romsey Close were taken to the Princess Royal University Hospital in Farnborough suffering from shock and one had an asthma attack.

They have both been released and are currently safe and well.

The Air Accident Investigation Branch is investigating the circumstances of the crash.