11/02/2009

Fatalities After Mid-Air Plane Crash

Four people are feared dead following a mid-air aircraft collision near a nature reserve.

South Wales Police were alerted to the accident which occurred near the reserve at Porthcawl, just before 11am on Wednesday.

Jeff Tildesley, Deputy Mayor of Bridgend Council, said he believed at least two people were killed in the incident.

Speaking from the scene of the crash near Kenfig Nature reserve he told BBC Radio Wales: "I can see some of the wreckage of an aircraft touched on one of the sand dunes here, surrounded by lots of police vehicles.

Mr Tildesley said he understood the two aircraft had clipped each other's wings.

A South Wales Police spokesman said: "At the moment, we cannot confirm a specific number, but there have been fatalities. We are trying to contact the next of kin."

A Welsh Ambulance Service spokesman confirmed they attended "a major incident" in the Porthcawl area.

A Swansea Coastguard spokesman said: "It has been declared as a major incident.

"The RAF Aeronautical Rescue Co-ordination Centre in Kinloss, Scotland, is co-ordinating the incident."

(JM/KMcA)

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