These harrowing photos show the crumpled remains of a single-engine aircraft that came down in thick fog, killing the pilot and a passenger.

Photos taken early this morning show the wings completely detached and the nose of the plane crushed in the foggy field at Overbury Estate in Gloucestershire.

The plane was making its way to Gloucestershire Airport at the time of the crash at around 12.45pm yesterday and has been confirmed as belonging to Aeros Flight Training School.

Photos taken early this morning show the plane's wings completely detached and the nose of the plane crushed in the foggy field at Overbury Estate in Gloucestershire

The aircraft was making its way to Gloucestershire Airport at the time of the crash at around 12.45pm yesterday and has been confirmed as belonging to Aeros Flight Training School

Eyewitnesses reported seeing the plane crashing into a tree at Overbury Court, part of the privately-owned land at Overbury Estate in Worcestershire

When approached for comment today Aeros said they are not able to say anything more at this stage.

The Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB), an independent part of the Department for Transport, is now leading an investigation into the incident.

Inspector Alan Thorne, who attended the site today, said: 'We're working on recovering the aircraft itself, doing analysis on the site, and gathering as much evidence as we can from various sources.

'This includes radar, air traffic control, as well as from the site here itself. We will then take the aircraft back to our facilities in Farnborough for a much more detailed examination.'

The Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB), an independent part of the Department for Transport, is now leading an investigation into the incident

Inspector Alan Thorne said: 'We're working on recovering the aircraft itself, doing analysis on the site, and gathering as much evidence as we can from various sources'

A West Mercia Police spokesman said at 2.30pm today: 'One family has now been informed and we are currently working to contact the second person's next of kin'

The AAIB website says that a report can take several months to produce.

A West Mercia Police spokesman said at 2.30pm today: 'One family has now been informed and we are currently working to contact the second person's next of kin.'

The ambulance service and police were alerted to the incident shortly after 12.45pm yesterday afternoon and six fire crews, two ambulances and two paramedics attended.

Due to the thick fog, an air ambulance had to land two miles from the scene - and by the time they reached the scene by car, both passengers were pronounced dead.

Air Traffic Control said it lost contact with the inbound light aircraft at about 12.40pm.

An airport spokesperson said: 'Alerting action was taken with the appropriate agencies and emergency services attending the scene of the crash, at Overbury, near Tewkesbury.'

West Midlands Ambulance Service said the single-engine plane came down on Bredon Hill in Gloucestershire at around 12.45pm yesterday