An Irish businessman was killed in England yesterday when the light aircraft he was piloting crashed into the moors in Lancashire. The man was named by Lancashire police as Mr Frank Lennon, a 58-year-old married father of three.
Originally from Drumlish, Co Longford, he had lived in the Leeds area for most of his working life, where he was involved in the construction industry and had built up a portfolio of hotels. He set out at 9.40 a.m. from Leeds Bradford airport for Knock airport in his twin engine Cessna aircraft. After a successful take-off his aircraft ran into difficulties some 15 minutes later and crashed into the moors at Trawden near Colne in Lancashire. He was the only person on board.
Mr Lennon had made contact with air traffic control at Leeds airport just before the crash and had reported engine trouble. His remains were recovered by the Rossendale mountain rescue team and were removed to Burnley hospital.
The British Civil Aviation Authority has begun an investigation into the crash.
Mr Lennon's family has owned a holiday home just outside Knock for several years. It is believed to have been his intended destination yesterday. He regularly made the journey between Leeds and Knock in his light aircraft.
The dead man has not lived in Ireland since the early 1960s. His family are well known in Longford. His brothers are Father Pat Lennon, a missionary in Zambia, and Mr Michael Lennon, a farm advisor with Teagasc. He also has two sisters, Bridie, a nurse in St Joseph's in Longford, and Rosemary, now based in the US.
