The air crash near Hemingbrough has left many people shocked and bereaved. Family and friends of Gerry and Laurence Davitt, Paul Blackburn and Kenneth Moore are today trying to come to terms with their loss. It was a sudden, tragic waste of life.

Evening Press readers knew Gerry's family from our report of another crisis in the sky. He was with his son Joe in the same aircraft when it lost half its landing gear in February 1996.

Joe, then aged 11, took over the controls so his father could prepare passengers for the emergency landing. Joe's actions were recognised with a Child of Courage award. He will need every last drop of that courage to face up to life without his father, Gerry, and his grandfather, Laurence.

The York City family is also mourning its loss. Gerry Davitt was one of the club's most fervent supporters. He would follow matches home and away, travelling to distant grounds by air. And he invested more than just his time and loyalty in City.

Gerry was a shareholder, whose ultimate ambition was to become a director. He sponsored several youth teams at Bootham Crescent, helping young players to fulfil their potential.

Gerry embraced life, whether he was running his own business, or enjoying his hobbies of flying and sport. The family has the same positive approach. They have been shattered by the accident, and are now left to ask how it could be that lightning struck twice. The investigation already under way into the cause of the crash needs to be thorough and swift.

We know that two of the men on board the single engine aircraft were experienced pilots and members of the Sherburn Aero Club. We also know that they were capable of keeping calm during a mid-air crisis.But this time, they were unable to prevent catastrophe. The investigators are striving to discover what caused the plane to spiral so quickly and so devastatingly out of control.

Aviators everywhere will want to know the answer as soon as possible. Any lessons learned from the crash should help to make the skies safer for others.

That will be for the future. Today we add our tribute to the many that have already been paid to the four men who died. Our deepest sympathies go out to everyone affected by this terrible tragedy.

see NEWS 'Plane crash family's pain'

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.