London helicopter crash: Two die in Vauxhall crane accident

Two people were killed and 12 were hurt when a helicopter crashed into a crane on a building in central London.

he helicopter hit the crane on top of The Tower, One St George Wharf beside the Thames at about 08:00 GMT.

Cars and two buildings caught fire after the burning wreckage fell into Wandsworth Road in South Lambeth. Eighty firefighters tackled the blaze.

The pilot, Capt Pete Barnes from charter firm Rotormotion, was killed, along with a person on the ground.

Mr Barnes, 50 and from near Reading, Berkshire, had asked to be diverted to a nearby heliport because of bad weather.Metropolitan Police Commander Neil Basu told BBC News it was "miraculous" the crash was not much worse.

Enormous bang'

Mr Barnes is understood to have piloted helicopters in action scenes for films Die Another Day, Tomb Raider II and Saving Private Ryan.According to his LinkedIn profile he had also operated flights for the BBC and ITN during the Athens and London Olympics.

Capt Philip Amadeus, managing director at Rotormotion, said Mr Barnes was a highly qualified commercial pilot with more than 12,000 flying hours. He had worked for the firm for more than 15 years.

Mr Amadeus said: "We are devastated by the loss of a highly valued colleague and very dear friend. Our thoughts and condolences are with Peter's wife and children.

"His death is a very great loss to the aviation community and Rotormotion."