Aviation student killed in mid-air crash doing 'what he loved'

An aviation student who dreamt of becoming a pilot was killed along with three other people when his plane hit a helicopter near the Rothschild's Buckinghamshire estate on Friday.

Friends have paid tribute to 18-year-old Saavan Mundae, from Buckinghamshire New University’s aviation course, saying he died doing what he “loved and believed in”.

It is the second time in six years tragedy has struck the course, which lost one of its students when the plane she was flying crashed in a Florida swamp.

Also killed when the student’s Cessna 152 crashed into a helicopter on Friday was his flight instructor, the helicopter pilot and his passenger.

Captain Mike Green, the pilot of the helicopter, had taken a passenger on a 'gift' sightseeing tour' when his helicopter was hit by the Cessna.

Both aircraft disintegrated on impact and plummeted to the ground.

They had taken off a short time earlier from an airfield where air traffic control had been shut due to “staff shortages”.

Wreckage from the aircraft tumbled from the sky and landed just over a mile from the former home of the Rothschild banking family at Waddesdon Manor, in Buckinghamshire.

Thames Valley Police confirmed last night that the four bodies of the men were still at the crash scene and had not yet been recovered. Three of the victims’ families visited the crash scene yesterday afternoon.

Mr Mundae was studying air transport with commercial pilot training at Bucks New University and had only been flying for 9 weeks.

Benjamin Hant, a fellow student on the course, wrote on a Twitter tribute page: “I lost two close friends in a tragic air accident in High Wycombe. One of my fellow pilots and my flying instructor lost their lives.

“Being a pilot is what I’ve wanted to do since I was young and it’s hit me hard and all of the Bucks Uni pilots that accidents still do happen when we think we are completely safe. We all need to stay strong and don’t forget the reason we fly.

“These two amazing people lost their lives but they both died doing what they love and what they believe in. My heart goes out to the four families of the people who died.”

In 2011 Bucks New University aviation student Carly Beattie, 21, was flying in a Cessna 152 with her brother Daniel, 24, when the plane nosedived, hit a tree and crashed into a swamp near Blue Cypress Lake, Florida.

Captain Green, a former Army instructor in his 60s, trained students for Helicopter Services based at Wycombe Air Field in Buckinghamshire.

His friend Captain Phil Croucher said: "I have lost a good friend of 25 years and a professional pilot whose experience will not be passed on to younger pilots. I knew him in the Army when he was an instructor. He was permanently cheerful, he had such a positive outlook on life and he always went above and beyond to help people.

“He helped his students get jobs and went the extra mile. His death is an incredibly sad loss."

At least seven fire appliances rushed to the scene at Upper Winchendon and a fire brigade drone was launched over the fallen wreckage to spot any survivors.

Members of the Rothschild reported hearing a “loud bang” and a plume of smoke could be seen above trees.

Waddesdon Manor said in a statement: "Lord Rothschild and his family extend their condolences to the families of all affected, and their thanks to the emergency services for their swift response and professionalism."

Both aircraft had taken off from Wycombe Air Park, 23 miles away near High Wycombe, where a Notice to Airmen was previously issued to warn pilots the air field's air traffic control services would be closed during three 30-minute periods on selected days between November 7-30 due to a "staff shortage".

The crash occurred around half an hour after the latest closure was due to end.

Investigators from the Air Accidents Investigation Branch are looking into the circumstances of the crash and what led to two aircraft flying into each other just over 20 miles from their base.

The Cessna 152 was built in 1982 and owned by Airways Aero Associations, based at Wycombe Air Park.

It had flown more than 14,000 hours and had previously suffered substantial damage to its landing gear, propeller and engine following a crash at a Cornish airfield in 1993.