A pilot who was flying a Cambridge University student home when she forced open the plane door and leapt to her death has told how he struggled to save her.

Alana Cutland, 19, managed to open the door of the light plane and leap 5,000ft to her death after fighting off a family friend who had travelled to Madagascar to bring her home.

Now the Cessna’s pilot, Mahefa Tahina Rantoanina, 33, has said Miss Cutland remained “completely silent” during the struggle, before managing to slip from his grasp and plunge to earth.

Mr Rantoanina said he and the family friend, Ruth Johnson, 51, had struggled to hold on to the teeanger, but could not prevent her jumping out.

He told The Sun: “I had just taken off and I was still climbing when all of a sudden there was a rush of wind and Ruth started screaming. I turned round and saw Alana hanging out of my plane.

“I immediately levelled the aircraft to try and keep us on course, then I reached over and held the door. I was trying to pull it shut while Ruth was holding on to Alana’s leg.

“I was trying to fly and stop her from falling at the same time. I was absolutely terrified, we all were. Ruth and I were shouting at her to come back inside the plane. But for the whole time Alana did not say a word she just struggled to get away from us.