Former Army Pilot Killed In Air Crash
Two of the victims of a mid-air collision between a helicopter and a plane have been named as an Army veteran and a Vietnamese national training to become a military flight instructor.
Police have not yet confirmed their identities but the company Helicopter Services has named employee Captain Mike Green, an Army veteran, as one of the pilots involved.
Capt Green died alongside his young student when their helicopter collided with a light aircraft.
His student was a Vietnamese national who was on a training course in the UK to become a military flight instructor, according to his country's Ministry of Defence.
Nguyen Thanh Trung worked at a Vietnamese Army training centre and was being instructed by Capt Green in the helicopter.
According to Vietnam's Ministry of Defence, the Cessna 152 dropped in height suddenly and crashed into the tail of the helicopter.
Capt Green was a senior instructor with Helicopter Services, a firm which offers training flights and gift experiences from its base at Wycombe Air Park.
The company said on Facebook: "We have received many messages of support and kind words about our friend who, as a senior instructor and examiner, helped and mentored so many pilots throughout the industry during his distinguished career.
"It was an honour to work with you. Captain Green, you will be greatly missed."
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 bodies of all four men have been recovered from the scene and post-mortem examinations, which will take several days, have now begun.
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:
"Our thoughts remain with the families of the men who have tragically lost their lives."
"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.
The head of training at the Caledonian Advanced Pilot Training Ground School also said he believed the crash was an accident and no negligence was involved.
The aircraft crashed on the Waddesdon Estate, the former country seat of the Rothschild banking dynasty.
The collision happened at 12.06pm and both aircraft, carrying two passengers each, are believed to have come from the Wycombe airstrip, also known as Booker Airfield, which is about 20 miles from the crash site.
The plane involved was a Cessna 152m built in 1982 and owned by Airways Aero Associations.
Officers, military personnel and air accident experts remained at the scene of the wreckage in woodland near Waddesdon, Buckinghamshire, over the weekend, as families wait to formally identify their loved ones.
Cover photo courtesy of Helicopter Services.
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