Police say pilot and passenger pronounced dead at scene near village of Stonor in Chilterns

This article is more than 1 year old

This article is more than 1 year old

Two people have died in a light aircraft crash near Henley-on-Thames.

Thames Valley police received reports at about 2.10pm on Saturday that the aircraft had crashed in a field near the village of Stonor in the Chiltern Hills.

The Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) said it was sending a team of investigators to the crash site to examine the aircraft.

In a statement, police said: “Sadly both the pilot and the passenger were pronounced dead at the scene. Their next of kin has been informed. No one on the ground was injured.

“The fire service and ambulance service also attended the scene. The Air Accidents Investigation Branch were informed and Thames Valley police is assisting with the initial investigation.”

Data from the European Aviation Safety Agency (EASA) shows that most air crash fatalities occur in light aircraft with a maximum takeoff mass of 2,550kg. The EASA recorded 78 such fatalities between 2014 and 2018.