‘Carbon fumes killed’ air crash instructor, claims widow
AN experienced Vietnamese army officer was one of four people killed in a horrific mid-air collision after a training instructor suffered the effects of carbon monoxide, it is being claimed in papers lodged with the high court.
Captain Trung Thanh Nguyen, 32, a helicopter instructor, was killed when his Gumal Cabri G2 helicopter and a Cessna 152 collided 1,500ft above Waddesdon Manor, near Aylesbury.
His widow claims in court documents an instructor in the Cessna plane was still suffering the effects of carbon monoxide fumes in the cockpit during his previous flight.
She is suing flying school Booker Aviation for more than £200,000 damages for herself and two young children, accusing the company of negligence. Booker Aviation denies the claims.
The two aircraft had taken off from High Wycombe Air Park on Nov 17, 2017 in good visibility, but collided less than 20 minutes later when the Cessna flew into the helicopter from behind.
Court papers allege the Cessna had a blind spot obscuring the pilots’ view. Capt Nguyen’s widow, 25, claims the Cessna instructor, Jaspal Bahra, 27, is likely to have been suffering impaired judgement as a result of carbon monoxide poisoning allegedly caused during a training flight in the same aircraft.
Coroner Crispin Butler said that there was no evidence that exposure to carbon monoxide played a part. Booker Aviation said: “Consistent with the outcome of the Coroner’s inquest, which identified no shortcomings in Booker Aviation’s activities, it is defending the proceedings vigorously.”