From Purple Aviation on Facebook:
Purple Aviation extends its deepest sympathies to the families of the two men who died in a tragic accident in the Alps today (Wednesday).
We can confirm that there was no mid air collision as described, and that the pilot of the first aircraft to crash walked away from the wreckage unharmed after a well executed forced landing.
We have been overwhelmed with messages of support throughout the day and would like to thank everyone who has tried to help us.
The men were in a plane that was part of a private expedition of five aircraft travelling from Newcastle to Malta.
The accident happened over the Maddalena Pass, on France’s border with Italy.
Whilst the expedition was not organised by Purple Aviation, the team included two company directors, Richard Pike and Sam Woodgate.
Richard said: “This was a group of experienced pilots and close friends embarking on the trip of a lifetime, which has been planned over the last year.”
The trip had set out from Eshott Airfield in Northumberland on Sunday and had been travelling in a series of stages, scheduled to reach Malta on Saturday.
The pilot who died was flying an aircraft loaned by Purple Aviation as part of the support network for the trip.
The passenger in the plane, who was also killed in the crash, was another close friend.
Richard said: “Everyone involved has been devastated by this tragic accident”
“We’d like to pass on our sincere condolences to the families of those who died. We have lost two brilliant friends today”
An investigation is now ongoing by French aviation authorities, and they have been provided with the expedition’s film footage of the incident to see how events unfolded.