France: Plane crash, 2 killed, British F1 racing driver Coulthard in hospital

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http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/world/europe/newsid_733000/733565.stm

British Formula One driver David Coulthard has been hurt in a plane crash which has killed two people, the Reuters news agency has reported.

The Scotsman is believed to have suffered slight injuries when the light aircraft came down in France on Tuesday.

It is understood Mr Coulthard was travelling in a private Lear Jet which crashed on landing at Lyon-Satolas airport.

The pilot and co-pilot were killed, sources at the airport told Reuters.

Three passengers, including Mr Coulthard, 29, were reportedly taken to hospital.

The plane had taken off from Britain and was heading for Nice on the French Riviera when the pilot requested an emergency landing at Lyon because of engine trouble, the sources said.

-- Jim McAteer (jim_mcateer@hotmail.com), May 02, 2000

Answers

Jim,

Thank you for the post. I just found this article. It mentions something about the plane being on fire when it landed. He was a lucky man to escape this from the way it sounds...

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[Fair use for education and research purpose only]

BBC Paris correspondent Jon Sopel

"It appears Coulthard and the other two survivors were extremely lucky" Bernard Chaffange, director Lyon Airport "The plane crashed on the runway when trying to land" Tuesday, 2 May, 2000, 15:24 GMT 16:24 UK

Coulthard in plane crash

British Formula One driver David Coulthard has been hurt in a plane crash which killed both pilots.

The Scotsman, who won the British Grand Prix nine days ago in his McLaren-Mercedes, suffered slight injuries when the light aircraft came down in flames in France on Tuesday.

Coulthard, girlfriend Heidi Winchelski and his bodyguard were travelling in a private Learjet which crashed on landing at Lyon- Satolas airport.

They managed to get out of the plane themselves immediately after the crash and were picked up in an ambulance Bernard Chaffange, Lyon Airport

The pilot and co-pilot were killed and three of the five passengers, including Coulthard, 29, were taken to hospital.

The plane had taken off from Britain and was heading for Nice on the French Riviera when the Learjet pilot requested an emergency landing at Lyon because of engine trouble.

Bernard Chaffange, director of Lyon Airport, said the plane was on fire when it landed and the passengers escaped from a rear cabin window.

He said the pilot had radioed ahead and there was a fire team on stand-by at the runway.

He said: "They managed to escape the fire immediately. They escaped by the window.

The plane was on its way to Nice "They managed to get out of the plane themselves immediately after the crash and were picked up in an ambulance and taken to hospital for a check-up.

"They were in as good a condition as they can be. I think they were very slightly injured," he added.

Mr Chaffange said the stricken plane was still by the side of the runway and an accident investigation was under way.

Coulthard, who is from Twynholm in Dumfries but now lives in Monaco, called his manager, Ian Cunningham, to confirm that he escaped serious injury.

McLaren-Mercedes spokeswoman, Paula Webb, said: "All the details we have at the moment are that there was an accident and there was a crash.

Starting grid

"All the passengers are fine. He is in hospital and is being checked out.

"He will go home later today. He was on his way home. It happened earlier today."

A spokesman for the Twynholm transport company owned by the driver's father Duncan said Mr Coulthard and other members of the family were on a nine-week holiday in Spain.

The sportsman proposed to fashion model Heidi over the New Year although the couple said they had no plans to get married until the current season is over.

Practice for the Spanish Grand Prix begins on Friday and early indications are that he will be on the starting grid.

Coulthard made his Formula One debut in Spain in 1994 for Williams after being promoted from test driver following the death of former world champion Ayrton Senna at the San Marino Grand Prix earlier in the season.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/hi/english/world/europe/newsid_733000/73 3565.stm

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-- (Dee360Degree@aol.com), May 02, 2000.


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