Last update: Tue Aug 19 2008 13:00:35

'Planes were both coming in to land'

Both of the planes involved in a mid-air collision in which five people were killed were approaching to land at the time of the crash.

The five people died when a Cessna 402 collided with a Rand KR-2 near Coombe Abbey Country Park shortly after 11.30am on Sunday.

The body of the KR-2 pilot was recovered on Sunday night, while the bodies of the other four were removed from the wreckage on Monday night.

In a statement, the Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) said both aircraft were approaching to land at Coventry Airport at the time of the collision. Three investigators from the AAIB are continuing their work at the scene of the crash.

The families of the victims attended the scene on Monday, laying flowers at the edge of Brandon Wood, where the Cessna landed.

Names of the deceased have not yet been released because officers are still contacting relatives.

The British Microlight Aircraft Association said the light aircraft involved in the crash was a home-built kit plane.

The association posted a statement on its website to confirm that the light aircraft was not a microlight, as had been reported.

All four people on board the Cessna - three pilots and an engineer - were employees of specialist survey company Reconnaissance Ventures Ltd and were working at the time of the crash.

Colin Dennis, managing director of the Coventry-based firm, said the plane had been taking an "entirely routine flight" and was making an approach to land at Coventry Airport when the collision happened.

© Independent Television News Limited 2009. All rights reserved.

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