Private plane crashes into homes

[Mojo]

From BBC News:

A small plane has crashed into two homes in Farnborough, Greater London, the Metropolitan Police has said.

Fire was billowing from homes on quiet Broadwater Gardens after the plane came down at about 1430BST. Five people were on board, London Fire Brigade said.

Eyewitnesses said the plane came over nearby woods and hit houses before bursting into flames. It is not known if there was anyone in the two homes.

The plane was thought to be a twin engine Cessna Citation executive jet.

'We're going in'

A pilot who was landing another light aircraft at nearby Biggin Hill said he heard the pilot of the crashed plane talking to airport control.

Map showing Biggin Hill Airport and Farnborough

Named only as John, he told Sky News: "As I was on the runway... we were advised the fire crews were coming out.

"A few seconds later the pilot came back over the radio and said 'We're going in, we're going in' and the radio stayed live.

"And, as I turned off the runway, I looked back and I saw the plane. It just nose-dived out of the sky. The radio went dead and the black smoke came up."

Black smoke plume

One eyewitness, Paul Daisley, said: "We heard a light aircraft coming across as if it was having trouble putting its wheels up.

"The wheels wouldn't come down and it was dropping rather rapid[ly], as it came across the tennis centre. And then we just saw a big plume of black smoke go up in the air."

Another, Karl Mills, told Sky News: "It was the loudest noise I've ever heard. All you could see was a big ball of fire, and smoke billowing over the house."

Katherine Simnett told the BBC she believed the house was empty, and residents next door left safely.

She said roads in the crash area were closed and the smell of fuel was heavy in the air.

Hospital on standby

Police could not confirm from where the plane had taken off, or was attempting to land, but Biggin Hill Airport is used mostly by private planes and hosts an international air show.

Nearby Farnborough Hospital said it was on standby to take any casualties.

 

[Andrew Tiffin]

Luckily Coxster wasn't on that plane.

 

[Guinness]

Luckily it wasn't Coxster's house.

 

[laseandre]

Luckily Coxster's house is miles away as this is Farnborough in Kent, not Hampshire.

 

[Coxster]

Luckily Coxster's house is miles away as this is Farnborough in Kent, not Hampshire.

Indeed - 'tis the wrong Farnborough. Here in 'big Farnborough' we have a larger airport. Not sure what that has to do with anything but hey. Even if it did happen in 'my Farnborough' I'd have missed out on all the 'fun' as I'm currently 30-odd miles away at work!

I can't imagine what it must have been like being on board this aircraft and plunging to the ground, knowing full well that there is nothing you can do to save yourself and those around you.

I leave you with an image or two of the last airshow. Imagine if this beast had crashed in Farnborough, Hants, during it's visit a year or so ago!

http://coxster.co.uk/stuff/FarnboroughAirshowAirbusA380_1.jpg
http://coxster.co.uk/stuff/FarnboroughAirshowAirbusA380_2.jpg

 

[P156KWJ]

don't think I'd be chuffed when I came home from a crap day at the office to find that sitting in my kitchen sink

 

[CraigS]

2 pilots and 3 passengers were killed in this from what I just heard on ITV News. No over casualties.

 

[Mojo]

I hope the householders are fully compensated from the estate of the lunatics who were flying on that private plane.

 

[Guinness]

I hope the householders are fully compensated from the estate of the lunatics who were flying on that private plane.

Why are they lunatics?

 

[P156KWJ]

exactly. You don't know what might have caused it

 

[laseandre]

The Beeb are blaming engine problems.

 

[Andrew Tiffin]

You don't see that often.

 

[djw1981]

I hope the householders are fully compensated from the estate of the lunatics who were flying on that private plane.

I believe that will come from their household contents and buildings insurance who in term will collect from the aircraft insurers or the pilots Public Liability Insurance.

 

[P156KWJ]

You don't see that often.

plane crashes as a whole are very rare - I mean, if you think, say a 3 car pile-up might make its way on to local travel news, a train hitting the buffers might just make it on to the headlines - but a small plane crash makes its way to the top of the headlines!

 

[Metroland]

They aren't that rare actually. Light planes crash quite often, another one went down today.

Military planes go down a couple of times a year usually too.

Airliners (thankfully) don't go down that much in this country, but generally there are 4 big airliner crashes per year worldwide. As the international system carries 2 billion passengers (roughly NR and LUL put together) that would, in terms of lives lost per passenger journey, equivalent to 20-30 major train crashes per year, as generally less people are killed per train crash as per plane.

Of course by passenger KMs, plane is roughly as safe as bus or train in the UK, so, they are safe, but the chances of actually being caught up in an accident are much higher than many people would imagine.

Nevertheless, granted the media will report plane and train crashes far more than the other modes, really because they are so rare.

 

[508EMU]

plane crashes as a whole are very rare - I mean, if you think, say a 3 car pile-up might make its way on to local travel news, a train hitting the buffers might just make it on to the headlines - but a small plane crash makes its way to the top of the headlines!

Thing is though although they dont happen as often, when it does there are usually many deaths. At least a train runs on the ground with a plane it has do fall down while gathering speed. Then when it actually hits the ground the fuel obviousley lights on impact which seem just a bit more of a big deal than a train crash...

 

[CosherB]

I hope the householders are fully compensated from the estate of the lunatics who were flying on that private plane.

Mojo - you need to grow up. When you fly off with all the other chavs on your holidays, are you a lunatic? Are the highly-trained flight crew lunatics as well?

That Citation had two highly experienced pilots and three fare-paying passengers on board. Whatever happened to bring the aeroplane down is still a mystery.

I think you owe those unfortunate folk and their families a great big grovelling apology!:mad:

 

[paul1609]

During one of my turns at the K&ESR whilst in between Rolvenden and Wittersham Rd we experienced a Light Aircraft making an emergency landing in a field alongside the line. We stopped the train to make sure everyone was ok. The pilot had a neck injury but was able to walk away as were the passengers. They climbed on board the train and we got the Rolvenden Signalman to phone for an ambulance to take the pilot to Ashford hospital.

When we got to Rolvenden station we were faced with the amazing scene of the A28 being blocked by a huge queue of Fire engines, Police Cars and Ambulances.
It appears that Kent Police had received 2 phone calls from local residents saying that they had seen an aircraft crash in to a field and that a nearby train might have been hit as it had stopped on the line nearby. Kent police had assumed that the aircraft was a jet of somekind and as the area was not easily accessed by road had put the South East England Emergency plan in to operation!

 

[Mojo]

Would you be happy if you returned from your holiday to find your posessions damaged and your house destroyed by the actions of some selfish individuals flying around in private aircraft?

 

[CosherB]

Oh, I see someone has taken it upon themselves to delete my post. Wonder who that was?

Mojo - you are way out of order. Your comments are in the worst of taste, as you seem to be implying that there was something reckless about a legal, licenced public transport flight from a licenced airfiled operated by a highly professional flight crew.

Would you like to repeat your juvenile comments above to the relatives of the unfortunate victims?

I say again, you are way out of order.

Please grow up, and apologise.

And if any mod feels the need to delete this post, kindly have the guts to put forward a sensible reason first. I'll put you intouch with the families of that flight crew and you can explain to them why you think Mojo's obscene comments should stand, unchallenged. :-x

 

[Mojo]

I am not questioning the ability or competency of anyone flying that 'plane. I am merely saying, that in my opinion, flying around in a private jet is irresponsible and that if you can afford to do that then your estate can also afford to pay for the damage on a, presumably innocent, third party.

 

[CosherB]

I am not questioning the ability or competency of anyone flying that 'plane. I am merely saying, that in my opinion, flying around in a private jet is irresponsible

Care to explain why? On your planet, is it equally irresponsible to drive around in a private car? They cause far more accidents and devastation than aeroplanes do, and their operation is far less regulated and their operators far less tested and qualified.

and that if you can afford to do that then your estate can also afford to pay for the damage on a, presumably innocent, third party.

What has what people can afford got to do with anything? Do I detect a shade of envy here, Mojo, a dog-in-a-manger attitude on your part (look it up)?

Your posts bring to mind the differing views between those of an open-minded disposition and those inadequates who just get envious. On seeing an Aston Martin Volante go by, the open minded thinks "do well, I can have one of those". The looser thinks "arrogant to55er. Why should he have that when I haven't?"

Which category do you fall into, Mojo?

CS

 

[Beaker]

Would you be happy if you returned from your holiday to find your posessions damaged and your house destroyed by the actions of some selfish individuals flying around in private aircraft?

You shouldn't leave your landing lights on them....