5 die when plane hits London-area home

Fatalities were aboard Cessna jet, which reportedly was headed to France

March 30, MSNBC

LONDON - A small plane crashed into a residential area south of London on Sunday, killing five people and completely destroying a house, police and rescue officials said.

Fire and police officials said they had found no survivors amid the flaming wreckage. Officials said the plane was carrying two pilots and three passengers.

"No survivors were found, but I can confirm that there were no people involved in the houses," said Jim Bascran, of the London fire department.

Police said they would not release any more information on the identities of the dead until their next of kin had been notified.

The private plane crashed into a house in Farnborough in Kent, just south of London, sometime after 2:30 p.m. local time, officials said. The neighborhood, Broadwater Gardens, lies near Biggin Hill Airport, about 12 miles from central London.

The small airport was an important Royal Air Force fighter station during World War II, but now serves private jets and helicopters.

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photo: Wreckage smoulders after a Cessna jet crashed into a home south of London, England, on Sunday. All five aboard the aircraft were killed (Getty Images)