Somerset air crash victims thought be from same family

Updated

Four people who died after a light aircraft crashed in Somerset are believed to be from the same family, police said.

Two men and two women were killed when the six-seater came down near Churchinford in the Blackdown Hills south of Taunton just before 11.45am on Saturday.

The aircraft was en route from Surrey to Dunkeswell Aerodrome in east Devon when it crashed.

Avon and Somerset Police said formal identification had not yet taken place but those who died were believed to be from the same family, who were from the Surrey area.

They were a 56-year-old man, a 55-year-old woman, a 23-year-old woman and a 20-year-old man, who were all pronounced dead at the scene.

Supt Richard Corrigan said: "We have a specially-trained family liaison officer supporting the affected family and they're being kept fully updated on our progress.

"Our thoughts are with them at this extremely difficult time.

"A joint investigation is under way with the Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB).

"The focus of the activity will be investigative enquiries and then recovery of the aircraft. Road closures remain in place around the crash site."

Police said 27 fire and rescue personnel plus specialist vehicles were sent to the scene, along with ambulances, the local air ambulance and a police helicopter.

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