Video: Police chief praises pilot's actions

12:42pm Monday 31st March 2008

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THE pilot of the plane which crashed in Farnborough yesterday has been called "heroic" by Bromley's police chief.

Borough commander Chief Superintendent Charles Griggs said it was a miracle that the number of people killed and injured in the accident was not much higher.

Speaking at the crash site in Romsey Close this morning Mr Griggs said the bodies of the five people killed in the crash will be removed from the wreckage today.

Mr Griggs said: "I think if we look at the plane taking off from Biggin Hill and if we look at where the crash scene is, it is on the edge of a dense housing estate and we are now right on the edge of woodland.

"It would appear from eyewitness accounts that the pilot made every effort to avoid mass casualties.

"I have heard in the press this morning about heroic actions. I think eyewitness accounts certainly say that is what the case was."

He added: "We are lucky, as lucky we can be, that there weren't more casualties.

"The house was empty which in itself was lucky.

"The scene around the second house - how people, particularly children, weren't injured is a miracle."

Recovery operation

London Fire Brigade have been working throughout the night to make the site secure for air accident investigators to begin their investigation into the cause of the crash.

They are arriving today and will be gathering evidence and removing wreckage to Farnborough in Hampshire for further investigation.

"Fantastic community spirit"

Residents of Romsey Close have been moved out of their homes and are staying with friends, family or in local hotels.

It could be several days before they are able to return to their homes.

A neighbour spoke this morning about the "fantastic community spirit" that was shown by residents of the Broadwater estate after the accident.

The woman who asked not to be named said: "Everyone came together.

"It was really nice that everyone was there, offering blankets and water.

"Everyone helped each other which was extremely good in a situation like this."

Dirty water

Since the accident Thames Water have received three complaints about discoloured water in homes on the estate.

A spokesman for Thames Water say that it is probably to do with the crash, as pumps used by the Fire Brigade to fight the fire will have stirred up sediment.

The company says they are monitoring the discolouration and that it is not a health risk.