Four die as helicopter and plane collide

The victims of a mid-air collision between a helicopter and a plane include three Britons and one Vietnamese national, police believe.

Officers, military personnel and air accident experts remained at the scene of the wreckage in woodland near Waddesdon, Buckinghamshire, yesterday as the families waited to formally identify their loved ones.

The bodies of all four men have been recovered from the scene and postmortem examinations began yesterday, Thames Valley Police said.

Superintendent Rebecca Mears said three of the families visited the site on Saturday, just a day after the accident at around midday on Friday. She said: “Specially trained family liaison officers are continuing to offer their support to the families of the victims affected, three of whom we understand to be British nationals, one of whom is a Vietnamese national.

“Work will today focus on removing the aircraft from the scene, which will be done with specialist support.”

Police have not confirmed the identities of the victims but colleagues named one pilot as Captain Mike Green, who died alongside his young student when their helicopter collided with the light aircraft.

Mr Green was a senior instructor with Helicopter Services, a firm which offers training flights and gift experiences from its base at Wycombe Air Park.

Captain Phil Croucher, who had known Mr Green for around 20 years after they had served in the Army together, said his death was a “sad loss”.

The head of training at the Caledonian Advanced Pilot Training Ground School said he believed the crash was an accident.

Mr Croucher, 65, said Mr Green, also thought to be in his 60s, was on a training flight with a young student.

The collision happened at 12.06pm and both aircraft, carrying two passengers each, are believed to have come from the Wycombe airstrip, about 20 miles from the crash site.

Captain Mike Green is believed to be one of the dead