Student killed in horror fall from aircraft
Cambridge student falls from plane to her death during internship in Madagascar
A CAMBRIDGE University student has died after falling from a plane during an internship in Madagascar.
Alana Cutland, 19, reportedly plunged 5,000ft from the light aircraft shortly after take-off.
The natural sciences student, from Milton Keynes, had been working on the biology of crabs in East Africa.
Her family said she was ‘particularly excited’ to carry out research in the Indian Ocean, having raised the money to fund her trip to Madagascar herself.
She was described by relatives as a ‘bright, independent young woman’ who had a ‘thirst for discovering more of the world’. In a statement released through the Foreign Office, the family said: ‘Alana was a bright, independent young woman, who was loved and admired by all those that knew her.
‘She was always so kind and supportive, which resulted in her having a very special connection with a wide network of people from all walks of life, who we know will miss her dearly.
‘Alana grasped every opportunity that was offered to her with enthusiasm and a sense of adventure, always seeking to extend her knowledge and experience in the best ways possible.’
They added: ‘Alana was also a talented dancer and embraced the more creative side of her talnews
‘Grasped every opportunity’
ents with joy and commitment. Her thirst for discovering more of the world always ensured she made the most of every second of her action-packed young life.
‘We are heartbroken at the loss of our wonderful, beautiful daughter, who lit up every room she walked into, and made people smile just by being there.’
Miss Cutland died while flying over the isolated northern region of Anjajavy last Thursday, but details were only released by officials yesterday.
Local media reported that her body has still not been recovered, as it fell into an area of savannah where wild animals roam.
Dr David Woodman of Robinson College, Cambridge, said the university was ‘deeply shocked’ by the of Miss Cutland’s death. ‘In her two years here, she made a huge contribution to many different aspects of life in the college,’ he said. ‘She will be sorely missed by us all. The college extends its sincerest condolences to Alana’s family at this extremely difficult time.’
As well as being the vice president of student-run dance group Cutazz, Miss Cutland was also involved in the campus yoga and mindfulness society. ‘She was amazing, one of the most beautiful and pure girls I’ve ever known, inside and out,’ a friend told The Sun.
‘The whole thing has been a nightmare for her family and friends back home in the UK. We knew she was getting some sort of plane trip last week to study the seabed on a neighbouring island, but then contact went dead and we started to fear the worst.
‘Alana had so much going for her. She loved animals and nature and was over the moon to be going to Madagascar to pursue her passion.’
Miss Cutland is believed to have been travelling with a pilot and one other passenger when tragedy struck. Local reports said investigators would attempt to solve the mystery of why she fell out of the plane using a reconstruction of the flight.
A spokesman for the Foreign Office said: ‘We are in contact with the Madagascan government, police and aviation authorities following reports of the death of a British woman. Our staff are offering support to her family.’