2 May 2000
David Coulthard has escaped without injury from a plane crash in France today (Tuesday). He was travelling in a chartered Lear jet from Farnborough, Hampshire in England to Nice Airport when it was forced to make an emergency landing at Lyon-Satolas airport because of engine trouble.
Jacques Donati, Media Attache at Lyon-Satolas Airport described the crash saying that the problems with the engines caused the plane to be unstable as it came in to land. It listed to one side and one wing made contact with the ground, which caused the plane to flip forwards and nosedive into the ground. This resulted in the deaths of the pilot and co-pilot.
The aircraft then caught fire and Coulthard, his fiancee Heidi and his personal trainer Andy Matthews, were forced to escape through an emergency hatch. They were taken to hospital by ambulance as a precaution, where they underwent extensive tests, but were later released and reportedly plan to continue their journies to their home in Monaco.
Coulthard released a statement saying, "I am very relieved that Heidi, Andy and myself are unhurt but I would like to express my deepest sympathies to the families of the two pilots. We were very lucky to walk away."
The 29 year old Scotsman won the British Grand Prix on 23rd April and was looking for another win to strengthen his World Championship campaign at this weekend's Spanish Grand Prix.
Closest rival in the Championship standings, Michael Schumacher, was upset when the news was relayed to him by his press officer and commented to Formula1.com, "I am shocked but also relieved to hear that apparently David and the other passengers have escaped without injury."
McLaren have said that this will not affect Coulthard's participation in the Spanish Grand Prix on May 7th.
Coulthard read a brief prepared statement, as follows:
"I have written down some thoughts of
the crash in which my fiancée, Heidi
Wichlinski, and my fitness trainer, Andy
Matthews, were involved," he said.
"First of all, I would like to express my sympathy
for the families of the two
pilots, who behaved in a thoroughly professional manner
throughout the
incident."
"I hired a Lear 35, which is an aircraft I am familiar
with, but not the aircraft
or the crew I use on a regular basis.
"We left Farnborough to return home to Monaco. It
was a normal flight, and
then the co-pilot informed us that we had an engine problem
and would be
making an emergency landing at Lyon in 10 minutes’ time.
"We had time to prepare for the emergency landing
in the brace position. On
landing, one of the wing fuel tanks ruptured, and there
was a fire on the
right-hand side of the plane.
"When the plane finally came to rest the front of
the cockpit had broken free
from the main fuselage. At this point we established the
only way out was
through the front of the aircraft.
"Andy led the way through the debris and, as the plane
was now three or four
feet off the ground I followed him out so we could get
Heidi down from the
jet. Once we were all clear, I returned to the plane to
see what I could do for
the pilots, but there was nothing I could do.
"In less than a minute the emergency services arrived
and took over. I would
like to express our thanks to the French emergency services
and airport
authorities for the professional and swift response.
"We were taken to the hospital and a couple of hours
later we were released
from there with a couple of minor cuts and bruises.
"Heidi, Andy and myself recognized that this accident,
like all accidents, is of
interest to the media, but I hope you will respect our
feelings and allow us to
get on with the job this weekend.
"We are helping, and will continue to help, the French
authorities with their
inquiries into the incident, so it would be inappropriate
to make any further
comment or speculate further as to the cause of the accident.
"Thank you for your understanding, and let’s hope
we have a safe Grand
Prix."
