75 killed in Turkish plane crash

Three Britons were among 75 people killed yesterday when a Turkish Airlines plane on a domestic flight crashed in thick fog as it tried to land in south-east Turkey.

The aircraft, bound for Diyarbakir from Istanbul, was carrying 75 passengers and five crew. It was making its final approach to Diyarbakir airport when it lost contact with the control tower and crashed into a field, bursting into flames on impact. There were five survivors, including one woman who said she was thrown out of the fuselage on to a bundle of hay.

Investigators said there was no suspicion of sabotage and bad weather was the most probable cause of the crash.

David Hastie, from Glasgow, Christopher Ringland, of Manchester and a C Holtom, also from Manchester, are all "missing, presumed dead"..

A spokeswoman for Turkish Airlines, which released the names, said: "We believe that Mr Ringland and Mr Holtom were friends.".

Five people are believed to have survived the crash, which left twisted metal and luggage scattered for 800 yards.