Travel industry tributes have been pouring in after three British Airways cabin crew were killed and a fourth seriously injured in a New Year’s Eve car crash near Heathrow.
An online ‘BA Angels Fund’ set up on a Go Fund Me page by fellow cabin crew member Stephen Crook had raised more than £36,000 at the time of writing to support the families of those involved in the tragedy.
BA said it was “deeply saddened” by the news of the deaths of the two men aged 25 and 23 and a 20-year-old woman whose car collided with a dnata lorry at about 11.40pm on December 31. A fourth person in the Toyota car, a 25-year-old woman, was taken to hospital.
The driver of the lorry was taken to hospital as a precaution.
All four cabin crew worked for BA’s Mixed Fleet division.
Police appealed for witnesses to the accident at Stanwell to come forward.
A dnata spokesman told the BBC: “We can confirm that one of our trucks was involved in a road traffic accident on the evening of 31 December.
“We are fully assisting relevant authorities with their investigations. Our thoughts and condolences are with the families of those affected by this very sad incident.”
Crook said: “I don’t know if I knew these individuals personally but at Mixed Fleet we are all one large family and when times are tough we pull together and look out for one another like no other family can.
“My aim for the funds is to split the final total equally in four giving each family affected an equal amount and to ensure that we as a fleet can send a nice flower arrangement to the three crew members funerals.
“Also the crew member who is in hospital will need all the support and help they can get after they get out of hospital and as such I would like to be able to give them a nice sum of money, to help them in those first few months.
“I am currently communicating with our company and asking for their assistance with liaising with families to ensure that all the funds raised are distributed in accordance with their wishes.
“As I am sure you can appreciate this event is very fresh and as such no final decision will be made as to how the funds are used until all parties have been contacted and agreement given. When I have this information I will post this is in updates on the page so that all those who have donated are aware of how their money has been used.
“I know it is January and I know that money is tight but I know that as a fleet we will pull together and make this happen.
“Rest In Peace Guys, Go Fly The Skies Eternal.”
More: Donate to the BA Angels Fund