Osama bin Laden’s stepmother, half-sister and brother-in-law are thought to be among four people killed after a private jet owned by the family exploded into a fireball after overshooting a runway while trying to land outside London.
Rajaa Hashim, Osama’s stepmother, her daughter Sana bin Laden, and Sana’s husband Zuhair Hashim, have been named as the victims, according to NBC News.
They were killed alongside their Jordanian pilot, who has not yet been identified, when their £7million Embraer Phenom 300 jet overshot the runway at Blackbushe airport yesterday afternoon.
Killed: This image, which has been
widely circulated online, is believed to show Sana bin Laden, the
half-sister of Osama, sitting on a plane. She is thought to have died in
a airplane crash in Hampshire yesterday
widely circulated online, is believed to show Sana bin Laden, the
half-sister of Osama, sitting on a plane. She is thought to have died in
a airplane crash in Hampshire yesterday
Sana is thought to have been on the
plane with her mother Rajaa Hashim, Osama’s stepmother, and her husband
Zuhair Hashim, Osama’s brother-in-law, who are also believed to be among
the dead
plane with her mother Rajaa Hashim, Osama’s stepmother, and her husband
Zuhair Hashim, Osama’s brother-in-law, who are also believed to be among
the dead
The trio died alongside their
Jordanian pilot, who has not been identified, after the £7million
private jet they were flying on overshot the runway at Blackbushe
airport, hit the ground and exploded
Jordanian pilot, who has not been identified, after the £7million
private jet they were flying on overshot the runway at Blackbushe
airport, hit the ground and exploded
The bin Laden-owned Embraer Phenom 300, pictured, had just arrived from Milan when it overshot the runway
The rows of parked cars at British Car Auctions near Blackbushe Airport that were destroyed by a plane
The aircraft was owned by Salem Aviation, based in Jeddah, which is controlled by Osama bin Laden’s family.
The
Brazilian-built aircraft exploded after ploughing into a carpark
killing the Jordanian pilot, who has yet to be named, along with bin
Laden’s relatives.
Brazilian-built aircraft exploded after ploughing into a carpark
killing the Jordanian pilot, who has yet to be named, along with bin
Laden’s relatives.
The
jet was completely destroyed after it overshot the runway while trying
to land at the Blackbushe Airport on the Hampshire-Surrey border.
jet was completely destroyed after it overshot the runway while trying
to land at the Blackbushe Airport on the Hampshire-Surrey border.
Mohammed bin Awad bin Laden, Osama’s father, is believed to have had around two dozen wives and a total of 54 children.
Saudi law allows for a maximum of four wives at any one time, though Mohammed bin Laden divorced frequently.
Rajaa
Hashim was among those wives, making her Osama’s stepmother, while
daughter Sana would have been his half-sister, making Zuhair Hashim
Osama’s brother-in-law.
Hashim was among those wives, making her Osama’s stepmother, while
daughter Sana would have been his half-sister, making Zuhair Hashim
Osama’s brother-in-law.
Mohammed
bin Laden was originally from Yemen but moved to Saudi Arabia in the
1930s and became a building contractor for the SAudi Royal family.
bin Laden was originally from Yemen but moved to Saudi Arabia in the
1930s and became a building contractor for the SAudi Royal family.
Impressed
with his work, they made his construction company the favoured
contractor for many of the kingdom’s building projects, which became
more and more spectacular as the country was flooded with oil money.
with his work, they made his construction company the favoured
contractor for many of the kingdom’s building projects, which became
more and more spectacular as the country was flooded with oil money.
He
married Hamida Alia Ghanoum some time in the 1950s, and in 1957 she
gave birth to Osama bin Laden, believed to be her only child.
married Hamida Alia Ghanoum some time in the 1950s, and in 1957 she
gave birth to Osama bin Laden, believed to be her only child.
While
he grew up among the lavish trappings on wealth in the family’s
palatial home in Jeddah, he would go on to live a sparse life as the
leader of hardline terror group Al Qaeda.
he grew up among the lavish trappings on wealth in the family’s
palatial home in Jeddah, he would go on to live a sparse life as the
leader of hardline terror group Al Qaeda.
After
masterminding several bomb plots around the world, including an attack
on the World Trade Centre car park, he became the world’s most wanted
man in 2001 after terrorists from Al Qaeda crashed two planes into the
towers, killing more than 5,000 people.
masterminding several bomb plots around the world, including an attack
on the World Trade Centre car park, he became the world’s most wanted
man in 2001 after terrorists from Al Qaeda crashed two planes into the
towers, killing more than 5,000 people.
He
went into hiding and was believed to have been living in the tribal
mountainous region of Pakistan, until he was discovered living in a
compound in Abbottabad.
went into hiding and was believed to have been living in the tribal
mountainous region of Pakistan, until he was discovered living in a
compound in Abbottabad.
He was shot dead by a team of Navy SEALs in May 2011 during a raid on the compound.
In
the wake of the plane crash yesterday, emergency services raced to the
scene shortly after 3pm when the aircraft crashed into an overflow car
park attached to the British Car Auction.
the wake of the plane crash yesterday, emergency services raced to the
scene shortly after 3pm when the aircraft crashed into an overflow car
park attached to the British Car Auction.
The
Saudi Arabian embassy in London expressed their condolences to the bin
Laden family for their loss following yesterday’s accident.
Saudi Arabian embassy in London expressed their condolences to the bin
Laden family for their loss following yesterday’s accident.
Although based in Saudi Arabia, the plane was flying into Hampshire from Milan. The bin Ladens have interests in northern Italy.
The crash is not being treated as terrorism-related.
According
to AvGen Limited, who monitor flights arriving and departing Heathrow
Airport, their equipment picked up the doomed jet as it approached
Blackbushe Airport.
to AvGen Limited, who monitor flights arriving and departing Heathrow
Airport, their equipment picked up the doomed jet as it approached
Blackbushe Airport.
Their
data suggests that the aircraft was flying at 1,250 feet when it
approached the airfield. It then climbed rapidly 500 feet. When the
pilot steered the jet to the runway, he started losing height at a rate
of 3,000 feet per minute in the moments before the crash.
data suggests that the aircraft was flying at 1,250 feet when it
approached the airfield. It then climbed rapidly 500 feet. When the
pilot steered the jet to the runway, he started losing height at a rate
of 3,000 feet per minute in the moments before the crash.
Osama bin Laden’s family is still very well connected in Saudi Arabia with a multi-billion pound building empire
The aircraft involved in yesterday’s
crash was named after Osama bin Laden’s eldest brother Salem, right, who
himself died in an aircraft crash while flying in the United States in
1988 (also pictured is Salem’s first wife, Sandi, and the couple’s
child)
crash was named after Osama bin Laden’s eldest brother Salem, right, who
himself died in an aircraft crash while flying in the United States in
1988 (also pictured is Salem’s first wife, Sandi, and the couple’s
child)
Osama bin Laden’s father Mohammed, left, was killed in a crash in 1967 in a plane with the same tail number
Bin Laden’s father Mohammed originally registered the tail number of the aircraft involved in yesterday’s crash in the 1960s.
He
was flying the aircraft with the number HZ-IBN, when he died in another
crash in 1967, however his family retained the registration.
was flying the aircraft with the number HZ-IBN, when he died in another
crash in 1967, however his family retained the registration.
The
aircraft was registered to Salem Aviation – which was named after the
dead terrorist’s eldest brother, who himself died in a crash in 1988
when he ploughed into powerlines in San Antonio, Texas.
aircraft was registered to Salem Aviation – which was named after the
dead terrorist’s eldest brother, who himself died in a crash in 1988
when he ploughed into powerlines in San Antonio, Texas.
A source close to Saudi Arabian authorities said: ‘Saudi officials 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.’
A
spokesman for Blackbushe Airport said: ‘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.
spokesman for Blackbushe Airport said: ‘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 scene was attended by Blackbushe Fire & Rescue within minutes, followed by Hampshire Fire, Police and Ambulance units.
‘Emergency services are currently controlling the scene.’
The
South East Coast Ambulance Service sent out a tweet saying they have
had reports of four casualties after the incident near Farnborough.
South East Coast Ambulance Service sent out a tweet saying they have
had reports of four casualties after the incident near Farnborough.
The aircraft is understood to have been owned by a Saudi Arabian national.
All staff and customers at the British Car Auction site escaped unharmed.
Air accident investigators were soon at the scene of the crash in a bid to determine what went wrong
Several stunned people stood silently as they looked over towards the scene of yesterday’s disaster
Acting
chief inspector Olga Venner, of Hampshire Police, speaking from the
scene, said: ‘We can confirm that there were four people on board,
including the pilot.
chief inspector Olga Venner, of Hampshire Police, speaking from the
scene, said: ‘We can confirm that there were four people on board,
including the pilot.
‘Sadly,
there were no survivors. No-one on the ground has been injured and we
would urge anyone with any information, including pictures or videos, to
contact 101.’
there were no survivors. No-one on the ground has been injured and we
would urge anyone with any information, including pictures or videos, to
contact 101.’
In
a statement, an airport spokesman said: ‘Blackbushe Airport confirmed
that a Phenom 300 jet with four persons on board crashed near the end of
the runway around 3.09pm while attempting to make a landing.
a statement, an airport spokesman said: ‘Blackbushe Airport confirmed
that a Phenom 300 jet with four persons on board crashed near the end of
the runway around 3.09pm while attempting to make a landing.
‘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.’
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.’
Robert Belcher, a local aviation enthusiast, said he was driving home when he saw a plume of black smoke coming from the site.
He said: ‘I was passing the airport on my way home and there was a big column of smoke in the air.
‘The fire service had closed the road behind me.
‘I
could see the plume of smoke waving from about five miles away and was
hoping it was just a car fire rather than an aircraft accident.’
could see the plume of smoke waving from about five miles away and was
hoping it was just a car fire rather than an aircraft accident.’
Osama bin Laden, circled, lost his father Mohamed and his eldest brother Salem in two plane crashes
The aircraft tried and failed to land on the main runway at Blackbushe and instead ploughed into the car park
Mr Belcher said he was ‘shocked’ when he discovered that a jet had crashed.
He added: ‘Apparently the aircraft was landing and just didn’t stop.
‘At the end of the runway there is a car park because the airport is used for car auctions and it’s gone into there.
‘I assumed it was cars on fire in the auction yard.
‘Local people have said that it was this aircraft which is registered in Saudi Arabia.
‘It’s been a regular visitor to the airport for a few months.’
Andrew Thomas, who was paying for a car at the time of impact, said the plane ‘exploded’.
‘I saw it when it had just happened, and could see the plane and cars in flames,’ he told BBC Surrey.
‘The plane nosedived into the cars and exploded on impact.
The aircraft was seen circling Blackbushe Airport before overshooting the runway and crashing in a fireball
Four people were killed in the tragedy when the Saudi-owned private jet crashed into a car auction
According to eye-witnesses, the plane clipped a fence and flipped over before landing into a row of parked cars
Local
resident Daphne Knowles, 70, told GetSurrey: ‘I was in a field with the
cattle and I heard an aircraft coming very very fast from behind me.
The engines were screaming far too much and the aircraft was trying to
land – I’m a glider pilot and I thought it’s far too low to the ground.
resident Daphne Knowles, 70, told GetSurrey: ‘I was in a field with the
cattle and I heard an aircraft coming very very fast from behind me.
The engines were screaming far too much and the aircraft was trying to
land – I’m a glider pilot and I thought it’s far too low to the ground.
‘Two
people said they thought it had to swerve to miss another aircraft as
it went in, but I didn’t see that myself and can’t confirm, then there
was a huge black cloud of smoke which went up.’
people said they thought it had to swerve to miss another aircraft as
it went in, but I didn’t see that myself and can’t confirm, then there
was a huge black cloud of smoke which went up.’
Joe
Ramos’ was first alerted to the drama by his son and told how the plane
suddenly crashed into parked cars at a neighbouring auction site.
Ramos’ was first alerted to the drama by his son and told how the plane
suddenly crashed into parked cars at a neighbouring auction site.
Mr
Ramos, who was working nearby, said: ‘There was a loud bang and then my
son quickly came in to the auction hall where the cashiers are, saying a
plane had gone down.
Ramos, who was working nearby, said: ‘There was a loud bang and then my
son quickly came in to the auction hall where the cashiers are, saying a
plane had gone down.
‘We quickly went back out only to see a private jet had gone over the fence of the airport.
‘It’s actually clipped the fence, spun around and crashed into the cars where they are sold.
‘There are approximately six to ten fire engines and ambulances on the site. Everyone was evacuated from the site.
‘You can no longer see the plane in the fire as it’s spread on to the vehicles surrounding it.
‘The
fire started at the front of the plane and worked its way from the
front of the jet to the back and spread outwards onto the parked cars.
fire started at the front of the plane and worked its way from the
front of the jet to the back and spread outwards onto the parked cars.
‘The whole place was engulfed with very thick black smoke which the fire brigade is still trying to get on top of.’
The Civil Aviation Authority and Air Accidents Investigation Branch were among the professional bodies investigating the crash.
The nearby A30 was closed in both directions due to the incident.
Pictures have also shown a plume of black smoke being sent into the air following the tragic accident
The Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) confirmed it was investigating the fatal accident
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