Top Racers Killed in UK Jet Crash
The Standard | Apr. 01, 2008
Two former car racing champions were reportedly among five killed when an executive jet crashed into a house in a residential area south of London.
Officials said on March 31 that they found no survivors amid the flaming wreckage, adding the plane was carrying two pilots and three passengers. Nobody on the ground was injured as the couple who lived in the house were on holiday.
British media reports said those who died included David Leslie, 54, a former British Touring Car Championship driver, and Richard Lloyd, 63, the boss of Apex Motorsport who was also a former touring car champion. The third was Chris Allarton, 25, who had just started as race analyst with Apex.
The Cessna Citation jet crashed in Farnborough in Kent, near Biggin Hill Airport, about 20 kilometers from central London. The plane reported difficulties shortly after takeoff.
"The pilot made a call to say he was experiencing a problem and requested permission to land, but unfortunately crashed before reaching the airport," Biggin Hill said. The plane was reportedly headed to France.
A pilot, who gave his name as John, told Sky News he was about to land at Biggin Hill when a mayday call came over the radio from the plane that crashed. The pilot from the stricken plane said the aircraft was experiencing severe engine vibrations, and alarms could be heard going off in the cockpit.