An eyewitness commended the pilot of the aircraft which managed to land The pilot of a badly-damaged plane has been praised for avoiding a village and landing safely, after a mid-air collision in which two people died.
The two planes collided as 19 aircraft took part in the Schneider Trophy races from Bembridge Airport, Isle of Wight, on Saturday.
One crashed in remote woodlands, killing both occupants. The other plane landed at the airfield.
Race organiser Tim Wassell said the two people killed were father and son.
Their bodies are to be recovered later, as investigations are carried out.
Experts from the Air Accidents Investigation Branch will sift through the wreckage to find clues to the cause of the collision.
An eyewitness, who did not want to be named, commended the pilot of the plane which managed to land.
“It was a remarkable piece of flying. He managed to belly land under control instead of coming down on Havenstreet village, a matter of only seconds at that speed.”
Police protected the scene overnight before investigators arrived Race organiser Mr Wassell, chairman of the Royal Aero Club Racing and Rally Association, organisers of the Schneider Trophy, said the crash happened at the end of the Merlin Trophy race, a precursor to Sunday’s main Schneider Trophy, which has now been cancelled.
He told BBC News the planes were in a “handicapped air race” in which participants can overtake each other.
He added: “We’ve lost two friends and colleagues and everyone is feeling very shocked and numb.
“The occurrence [collision] happened shortly before the race was due to finish.”
Officers said they were working to identify the victims.
Insp Paul Saville urged anyone who has recovered parts of the aircraft, which may be spread over a wide area, to take them to Newport police station.
The two occupants of the second aircraft were taken to hospital and later released.
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