Couple killed in plane crash

A couple on their way to Jersey for the Easter weekend died when their light aircraft crashed.

They had set off from Panshanger airfield in Cole Green, near Hertford, when tragedy struck at around noon.

The
plane crashed into dense woodland in Steep, near Petersfield in
Hampshire, and the man and woman on board were both killed on impact.

He was a member of North London Flying School and the Piper aircraft was based at its Panshanger airfield.

About
24 firefighters battled to put out the flames on the four-seater,
fixed-wing craft in thick woodland on a steep hill, known as The
Hangers.

A Solent Coastguard watch officer said
flying conditions were "very difficult", adding: "The Coastguard
helicopter had to fly very low in bad visibility, with rain and low
cloud, to locate the casualty aircraft."