http://news.sky.com/skynews/article/0,,30100-1311171,00.html
Aircraft Crashes Into Kent Homes
A light plane has crashed into homes in Kent, leading to grave fears for residents and six people believed to be on board the aircraft.
Devastation at the scene
The private Cessna aircraft hit Broadwater Gardens, a residential area in Farnborough.
Sky correspondent Martin Brunt said: “There are a number of houses on fire”.
UPDATE:
Note: Photos included:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/7321589.stm
Page last updated at 21:58 GMT, Sunday, 30 March 2008 22:58 UK
“Five killed in Kent plane crash”
ARTICLE SNIPPET: “The plane - which was en route from nearby Biggin Hill airfield to France - burst into flames, destroying a garage and house, which was empty at the time.
No-one on the ground was badly injured, but two people were treated for shock.
The people who live in the damaged house were away on holiday.
They have returned since the crash and are being comforted by friends.
‘We’re going down’
It is thought the plane got into difficulties just after take-off from Biggin Hill.”
ARTICLE SNIPPET: “Andrew Walters, chairman of Biggin Hill Airport, confirmed that the passengers were on a business trip to France. The aircraft had just taken off when the pilot made an emergency call and asked for permission to land again.
“Unfortunately it crashed before reaching the airport,” Mr Walters said.
A pilot named as John, who was landing another plane at Biggin Hill, heard the mayday call. The Cessna pilot reported “severe engine vibrations”, he said.
He told the BBC: “You could hear the alarms in the cockpit.
“The pilot came back over the radio a second or two later and said ‘We’re going down, we’re going down’.
“The radio stayed live, and as I turned off the runway I looked back and I saw the plane basically drop out of the sky.
“And then the radio went dead and black smoke came up from over the hill.”
‘Felt the heat’
Local residents said they heard a “roar” and saw the plane flying along at a “funny angle” with its tail down and nose up. In the aftermath of the crash, they said the air was thick with the smell of fuel.”