Mid air plane collision in Wales
- 00:01:13
- ITN
Mid air plane collision in Wales
Four people are thought to have lost their lives when two light aircraft collided in mid-air. South Wales Police said both planes came down near a nature reserve at Porthcawl in South Wales. The Ministry of Defence (MoD) said it was responding to reports of the crash but could not confirm reports the aircraft were from a nearby RAF base. Jeff Tildesley, Deputy Mayor of Bridgend Council, said he understood that the two aircraft had clipped each other's wings. A South Wales Police spokesman said: "At the moment, we cannot confirm a specific number, but there have been fatalities. We are trying to contact the next of kin." Gareth Maund, the landlord of the Prince of Wales pub, said: "It happened very close. I didn't see it but it was apparently right above us. "What people are saying is that there was a loud bang and they saw one aeroplane spinning to the ground but there are two aeroplanes involved." The Air Accidents Investigation Branch said a team was travelling to the crash site. Madeleine Moon, Labour MP for Bridgend, said: "My heart goes out to the families of those who lost loved ones today in this tragic accident." A Swansea Coastguard spokesman said: "It has been declared as a major incident. "The RAF Aeronautical Rescue Co-ordination Centre in Kinloss, Scotland, is co-ordinating the incident." Two rescue helicopters were scrambled, along with the South Wales Police Air Support Unit. Coastguard rescue teams from Porthcawl, Port Talbot, Llantwit Major and the Mumbles were also attending, he added. South Wales Police have set up an emergency helpline - 0800 096 1011 - for people concerned relatives may have been involved in the crash.
ITN | February 11, 2009
