Lawyers Hope For Prompt Answers After Two Die In Incident

By Rob Dixon

Specialist aviation law experts revealed their hopes that the investigation into a light aircraft crash in Leicestershire on Sunday evening (July 14th), which led to the deaths of two people, will provide prompt answers so that the families and the aviation industry can understand what caused this tragedy.

Officers from Leicestershire Police are now working in conjunction with the Air Accident Investigations Branch to investigate the cause of the incident, which saw a plane come down in fields close to Fenny Drayton.

An elderly man and woman on board the light aircraft died at the scene, off Fenn Lane in the village. The authorities are now asking for any witnesses or anyone with information regarding the incident to come forward.

Irwin Mitchell’s Aviation Law team represents victims injured in air accidents in the UK and abroad, as well as the families of people who have died in such incidents.

Jim Morris, a former RAF pilot and Partner in the specialist team at Irwin Mitchell’s London office, said: “Very little is clearly known about this tragedy at present, so it is hugely important that police officers and the AAIB work quickly to ensure answers can be gathered over the incident. 

 “Key to this is the examination of all information regarding the flight, from the weather conditions at the time of the flight to the actions of the pilot and any mechanical issues which may have played a part. 

“There can be many factors that can cause a light aircraft to lose altitude and require it to make a forced landing away from the airfield. 

“Although pilots should practice the techniques needed to maximise the chances of making a safe forced landing into a field, the ability to land the aircraft safely depends on a number of factors, such as height available to position the aircraft, weather and visibility, the nature of the problem/ controllability of the aircraft and the nature of the terrain and availability of a suitable flat landing area/field within the gliding range of the aircraft.

“Comprehensive analysis of these and all other relevant issues will be vital in determining what caused the aircraft to lose altitude and why it ultimately crashed and caused the death of its two occupants.  From this lessons can be learned to improve flight safety.”

Read more about Irwin Mitchell's expertise in relation to Air Accident claims