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12/02/2009
Teenage Cousins Killed During RAF 'Flight Experience'
The two teenage cousins who died yesterday in a mid-air collision along with their RAF flying instructors have been named.
Air cadets, Nikkita Marie Walters, 13, and Katie-Jo Davies, 14, were being taken on a half-hour RAF "flight experience" when the two aircraft they were in crashed above sand dunes at Kenfig Nature Reserve, Porthcawl, on the South Wales.
In a statement, their families said: "Words cannot describe how devastated we are by the loss of our girls.
"Nikkita and Katie-Jo were both much loved and will be so sorely missed.
"We are all grieving and would appeal for privacy at this time to come to terms with our loss.
"We will not be making any further comment at this time. We need time alone to deal with what has happened."
Two pilots who also died on the "air experience" flights were Hylton Price, 63, from Bridgend, and Andrew Marsh, 24, of Penarth, Vale of Glamorgan.
It is thought the twin-seater propeller Grob Tutor aircraft clipped wings before tumbling from the sky near the M4 motorway and a mainline railway line on Wednesday.
Gp Capt Andy Naismith, the officer commander of the No1 Elementary Flying Training School, said: "We are trying to get as much information as possible about this incident and learn whatever lessons we can.
"I extend sincere condolences and my full support to the family, friends and colleagues of all those affected by this incident."
He added that the RAF felt like it had lost “four of our close family”.
The victims' next of kin have been informed and are coming to terms with the "devastating news", he added.
The planes came down at two separate sites at Kenfig Nature Reserve, Porthcawl, just before 11am, spreading debris across a wide area.
At least one was on fire at the time, South Wales Police said.
The Air Accidents Investigation Board, South Wales Police and the Ministry of Defence have launched a full investigation, and a major incident room has been set up at South Wales Police's Bridgend headquarters.
See: Fatalities After Mid-Air Plane Crash
(JM/BMcC)
Air cadets, Nikkita Marie Walters, 13, and Katie-Jo Davies, 14, were being taken on a half-hour RAF "flight experience" when the two aircraft they were in crashed above sand dunes at Kenfig Nature Reserve, Porthcawl, on the South Wales.
In a statement, their families said: "Words cannot describe how devastated we are by the loss of our girls.
"Nikkita and Katie-Jo were both much loved and will be so sorely missed.
"We are all grieving and would appeal for privacy at this time to come to terms with our loss.
"We will not be making any further comment at this time. We need time alone to deal with what has happened."
Two pilots who also died on the "air experience" flights were Hylton Price, 63, from Bridgend, and Andrew Marsh, 24, of Penarth, Vale of Glamorgan.
It is thought the twin-seater propeller Grob Tutor aircraft clipped wings before tumbling from the sky near the M4 motorway and a mainline railway line on Wednesday.
Gp Capt Andy Naismith, the officer commander of the No1 Elementary Flying Training School, said: "We are trying to get as much information as possible about this incident and learn whatever lessons we can.
"I extend sincere condolences and my full support to the family, friends and colleagues of all those affected by this incident."
He added that the RAF felt like it had lost “four of our close family”.
The victims' next of kin have been informed and are coming to terms with the "devastating news", he added.
The planes came down at two separate sites at Kenfig Nature Reserve, Porthcawl, just before 11am, spreading debris across a wide area.
At least one was on fire at the time, South Wales Police said.
The Air Accidents Investigation Board, South Wales Police and the Ministry of Defence have launched a full investigation, and a major incident room has been set up at South Wales Police's Bridgend headquarters.
See: Fatalities After Mid-Air Plane Crash
(JM/BMcC)
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