Training Aircraft Based At RAF Cranwell

Four people are confirmed lost in a mid-air collision near Bridgend, South Wales.

The London Times reports witnesses heard a loud bang, then saw one of the planes spin down to the ground. The second aircraft impacted away from the first, less than one mile from the M4 roadway.

Reports of the circumstances surrounding the accident are unconfirmed at this time, though one Bridgend official said the aircraft may have touched wings. There are reports the planes, types unreported, were both from a flight school at RAF Cranwell.

"I was looking up at two small planes in the sky and suddenly heard an enormous bang," said witness Cliff Allen. "I am almost stone deaf so it must have been loud for me to be able to hear it. One of the planes went into a nosedive and spiralled down out of sight. At that point there was no sound."

A spokesman with the Ministry of Defense confirmed "that we are responding to reports of a mid-air collision between two light aircraft over Porthcawl, near Bridgend in South Wales."

According to the RAF Cranwell web site, the facility operates Beechcraft B200 King Air turboprops, Hawker HS125 "Dominie" twinjets, and Grob G-115 Tutor single-engine piston aircraft. 

FMI: www.raf.mod.uk/rafcranwell/