Last updated at 16:05, Wednesday, 16 January 2013

The pilot who died today after his helicopter crashed in London has been named as Pete Barnes, who used to work for the Great North Air Ambulance.

Kevin Hodgson, director of operations for the GNAA, worked alongside Capt Barnes for several years.

He said: “Pete was as good a guy as you can imagine and one of the best pilots I’ve ever had the pleasure of flying with. Over the years he will have flown on dozens of missions, no doubt saving lives along the way.

"Everyone at the charity is deeply saddened at this news. Our thoughts are with everyone affected by the tragedy.”

Capt Barnes, who stopped working with the charity about four years ago, was killed when his helicopter crashed in central London and plunged into rush-hour traffic.

The helicopter - on a scheduled flight from Redhill, Surrey, to Elstree, Hertfordshire - spun out of control after clipping a crane on top of one of Europe’s tallest residential towers at about 8am.

It fell from from the sky before exploding into flames, plunging on to a street near Vauxhall station.

Someone on the ground was also killed and several people were injured, emergency services said.

First published at 16:00, Wednesday, 16 January 2013
Published by http://www.newsandstar.co.uk