An RAF reservist who died when his training aircraft collided in mid-air with a glider has been named.
Mike Blee, 62, and an air cadet who has yet to be formally named, were killed during the air experience flight after their two-seater RAF Tutor plane took off from RAF Benson in Oxfordshire.
A Thames Valley Police spokesman said: "Mike's family are deeply saddened by this tragic accident and have requested that the media respect their privacy at this very difficult time."
The two-seater RAF Tutor plane had taken off from RAF Benson with the pilot and the Combined Cadet Force cadet onboard when the accident occurred.
The glider pilot managed to parachute from his stricken aircraft and he landed safely in fields at Sutton Courtenay, near Abingdon.
Eyewitnesses said the single-engined trainer hit the ground nose first with a violent impact after spiralling out of control.
A Ministry of Defence spokesman said: "A thorough investigation will take place and we will take whatever action is necessary to prevent a recurrence of this tragic event.
"It is too early to comment on the cause of the incident. Our thoughts and prayers are with the family and friends of the passenger and pilot at this time."
Eyewitness Stuart Wilson, 48, was in a field outside his house when the plane came down a few hundred yards away. He said: "I saw the plane coming down vertically, nose down. There was a big impact noise when it hit the ground."
Another eyewitness, Bill Baker, 65, said: "I saw the plane coming down. It was spiralling round like a helicopter blade and as it got closer to the ground it started to go nose down. I heard the impact of the plane behind the trees and about 15 seconds later the glider came down. There didn't seem to be any explosion."
