Trainee pilot Jaskinder Samra killed in US plane crash

A trainee pilot from Wolverhampton has been killed in a plane crash in America.

Jaskinder Samra, aged 21, was fulfilling her lifelong dream to become a jumbo jet pilot when tragedy struck.

The former air stewardess was one of three people on board a training flight that plunged from the sky just minutes before reaching an airfield in Murray County, Georgia, Tennessee. It is believed the single engine Cessna Skyhawk aircraft ran out of fuel 400 miles into its 450-mile journey.

Wolves fan Jaskinder, of Cannock Road, died along with American pilot Abraham George, 24, who was in charge of the plane.

Fellow Brit Shaun Thacker, 21, is in hospital with serious injuries.

Miss Samra had moved to America to follow her dream of becoming a pilot and was being supported financially by her parents.

The tragedy came just weeks after Miss Samra, who used to work as an air stewardess for Easyjet and British Airways, had gained her pilot's licence allowing her to fly non-commercial aircraft.

Her family was contacted by another student on September 24 who told them there had been a crash and two people had died.

Miss Samra's cousin Manny Kooner, a businessman of Milton Keynes, said relatives did not receive official confirmation of her death until three days later.

"The best training schools are in Florida so she went there about eight months ago," he said. "She was taking lessons and had gained her pilot's licence and could fly non-commercial aircraft."

The trio had rented the 41-year-old plane and were due to fly to Chicago.

Mr George changed the flight plan to land at the Dalton Municipal Airport, in Georgia, instead but crashed a few miles away from it.

The Federal Aviation Authority and National Transportation Safety Board are investigating the crash.

Miss Samra's body was flown back from the United States on Friday.

Details of the funeral are still being finalised.