Blackbushe Airport: Four dead in car auction site plane crash
Share this with Facebook
Share this with Twitter
Share this with Messenger
Share this with Messenger
Share this with
These are outward links and will open in a fresh window
Share this with Facebook
Share this with Messenger
Share this with Messenger
Share this with Twitter
Share this with Pinterest
Share this with WhatsApp
Share this with LinkedIn
These are outward links and will open in a fresh window
Close share panel
Four people have died in a plane crash at a car auction site in Hampshire.
The Saudi-registered private jet – which was arriving from Italy – crashed during an attempt to land at Blackbushe Airport in Yateley.
Its pilot and all three passengers were killed but no-one on the ground was injured, Hampshire Constabulary said.
An eyewitness said the Phenom three hundred jet exploded on influence at the British Car Auctions site, which is based at the airfield.
In a statement, Blackbushe Airport said the jet crashed near the end of the runway while attempting to make a landing.
The Saudi General Authority of Civil Aviation tweeted it was a Saudi-registered private aircraft and that it would support the Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) in its investigation.
A spokeswoman for Milan Malpensa Airport confirmed the plane had left at 13:30 BST on its way to Hampshire.
‘Ball of flames’
Andrew Thomas, who was paying for a car at the time, eyed the plane catch fire on influence.
“I spotted it when it had just happened, and could see the plane and cars in flames,” he said.
“The plane nosedived into the cars and exploded on influence.”
British Car Auctions, based in Farnham, Surrey, operates an auction site and warehouse at the Hampshire airfield.
Barry Wright was at the warehouse when the crash happened. He said the plane “went up in a ball of flames in about sixty seconds”.
He added: “It sounded like a missile coming in – very noisy, followed by several explosions.”
He said everyone was evacuated from the area and people were shouting “get out”.
What is a Phenom 300?
- Light jet aircraft made by Brazilian manufacturer Embraer
- Standard models of the plane can hold eight occupants, including those in the cockpit
- Its wingspan is 15.91m (52ft 2ins), and length is 15.64m (51ft 4ins)
- Can reach four hundred fifty three knots on high-speed cruise mode
- Can reach a maximum altitude of 45,000ft (13,716m)
Robert Belcher said he witnessed a “a big column of smoke” as he was passing the airport on his way home
He said: “I could see the plume of smoke flapping from about five miles away and was hoping it was just a car fire rather than an aircraft accident.
“Evidently the aircraft was landing and just didn’t stop.
“At the end of the runway there is a car park, because the airport is used for car auctions, and it has gone into there.”
Hampshire police said officers were called to the scene at 15:09 BST.
The A30 was closed both ways inbetween A327 Cricket Hill Lane and Blackbushes Road, but has since reopened.
However, the airport access road is closed from the A30 junction. Police have warned people to avoid the area.
Acting Ch Insp Olga Venner said Hampshire police were carrying out a joint investigation with the AAIB.
She urged people with pictures and movies to get in touch on 101.