Four dead as aircraft collide near London

LONDON • A helicopter and light aircraft collided in midair northwest of London on Friday, killing four people and raising the alarm about an air traffic control tower that had been shut due to “staff shortages.”

Wreckage from the aircraft tumbled from the sky and landed just over a kilometre from the former home of the Rothschild banking family at Waddesdon Manor in Buckinghamshire, at lunchtime.

Members of the Rothschild reported hearing a “loud bang” and a plume of smoke could be seen above trees.

The Air Accidents Investigation Branch said the collision involved a helicopter and a two-seat Cessna 152 aircraft, each carrying two people. Both of the craft had taken off from Wycombe Air Park, nearly 40 kilometres away near High Wycombe.

A Notice to Airmen was previously issued to warn pilots the air field’s air traffic control services would be closed during three 30-minute periods on selected days between November 7-30 due to a “staff shortage.”

The crash occurred around half an hour after the latest closure was due to end.

Off-duty firefighter Mitch Missen witnessed the crash from his garden.

“I looked up and saw as both collided in mid-air, followed by a large bang and falling debris,” he said.

"I rushed in to get my car keys and en route called the emergency services, who I continued to give updates as to its whereabouts. Unfortunately, I wasn’t able to locate the actual crash site but directed police, fire and ambulance as best I could.”

At least seven fire trucks rushed to the scene at Upper Winchendon and a fire brigade drone was launched over the fallen wreckage to spot any survivors.

Staff from Waddesdon Manor, which is managed by the Rothschild Foundation on behalf of the National Trust, helped direct emergency vehicles.

Waddesdon Estate gardener Len Bellis described how he found the “burning wreckage” and discovered he was just 10 yards from a body in the undergrowth.

He had been working nearby when he heard a “horrendous noise” like a tin hangar collapsing and saw two men running toward him from the woods shouting, “did you see it, did you see it?”

Bellis said one of them told him he heard a plane “stuttering” just before the crash.

“I just came across the wreckage,” said Mr Bellis, who described the light aircraft as a “wreck” and “nonexistent,” apart from the burning fuselage.