Bin Laden's stepmother, sister killed in Saudi plane crash in UK

The stepmother and sister of slain al-Qaeda chief, Osama Bin Laden, have been killed after their private jet crashed at an airport in Hampshire, a county on the southern coast of England.

A source close to Saudi Arabian authorities confirmed that Bin Laden's stepmother and sister, along with their Jordanian pilot, were killed after the jet crashed at a car auction site while trying to land at Blackbushe Airport in Hampshire on Friday. There is no report about the identity of the fourth passenger.

The source noted that Saudi officials are maintaining close contact with members of Ben Laden’s family for further information.

“Saudi officials are in contact with members of the (bin Laden) family.  They are aware of the reports and are carrying out checks with members of the family for further information,” media outlets quoted the source as saying. 

Meanwhile, the Saudi Embassy in London has expressed condolences to the Bin Laden family for their loss following the aerial accident.

Saudi Arabia's General Authority of Civil Aviation also issued a statement, saying that it would work with British investigators to determine the cause of the crash.

"The Air Accidents Investigation Bureau in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia presents its most sincere condolences to the families of the victims," the statement added.

Reports said that the plane crashed as it was flying into Hampshire from the Italian city of Milan. The Bin Ladens have interests in northern Italy.

According to reports, the aircraft was owned by a Saudi national and registered in Saudi Arabia and has been a regular visitor to the airport for a few months.

Saudi sources said that Osama Bin Laden's father originally registered the tail number of the crashed plane in the 1960s.

According to reports, the aircraft overshot the runway, crashed into the car park near Blackbushe Airport, and burst into flames on impact.

The light aircraft was completely destroyed in the crash, leaving behind a fireball and large plume of toxic black smoke.

A spokesman for Blackbushe Airport later confirmed that the Brazilian-built Phenom 300 Jet crashed near the end of the runway while attempting to make a landing.

“A Phenom 300 Jet with four persons on board crashed near the end of the runway around 3.09 PM while attempting to make a landing,” the statement said, adding, “The scene was attended by Blackbushe Fire and Rescue within minutes, followed by Hampshire Fire, Police and Ambulance units. Emergency services are currently controlling the scene.”  

Witnesses said cars also caught fire in the auction yard after the plane nosedived into the area and exploded. The Hampshire police have warned people to avoid the area.

The UK Air Accidents Investigation Branch says it has launched inquiries into the deadly crash, but the incident is not being treated as terrorism-related. 

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