British Broadcasting Corporation


Page last updated at 21:08 GMT, Sunday, 1 June 2008 22:08 UK

Crashed plane was in live TV ad

Advertisement

Fourteen skydivers took part in the Honda stunt

A skydiving aircraft which crashed in Spain with the loss of two lives had been used the previous evening for a live TV ad on the UK's Channel 4.

The British arm of car manufacturer Honda confirmed that the plane was one of those used in Thursday night's advertisement for its brand.

Skydivers spelt out the company's name in a series of formations.

The crash on Friday, which nine skydivers managed to escape, was unconnected to its ad, Honda said.

"No-one on the plane was in any way connected to Honda or with the company's advertising shoot," according to its statement.

"Honda extends its sincerest condolences to the families of the two people killed."

Four injured

The pilot and another skydiver were killed when the plane, a Swiss-made Pilatus PC-6, came down after losing a wing near Lillo airfield in the province of Toledo, south of Madrid.

BBC map

It plummeted to earth shortly before 1400 GMT on Friday, bursting into flames upon impact.

The Honda live advert had been screened just after 1900 GMT the previous evening.

The UK Foreign Office has confirmed that the dead skydiver was a Brazilian-born Briton, German Junior Alvares de Silva, from London.

The pilot was Spanish as were four skydivers who were injured, two of them seriously, Spanish media said.

The other skydivers involved were believed to include several non-Spaniards.

It was not immediately known why the plane's wing had come off.


SEE ALSO
Skydivers survive Spanish crash
31 May 08 |  Europe
Channel 4 broadcasts live advert
30 May 08 |  Entertainment

RELATED INTERNET LINKS
The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites


FEATURES, VIEWS, ANALYSIS
Rare creatures found in the depths of the ocean
Are Obama's falling ratings sign of Democratic decline?
What makes a girl turn violent on her mother?

PRODUCTS & SERVICES

Explore the BBC

This page is best viewed in an up-to-date web browser with style sheets (CSS) enabled. While you will be able to view the content of this page in your current browser, you will not be able to get the full visual experience. Please consider upgrading your browser software or enabling style sheets (CSS) if you are able to do so.
Americas Africa Europe Middle East South Asia Asia Pacific