British father, son die in small plane accident in Spain

A British man and his adult son died Saturday when their small plane crashed during a practice flight just hours ahead of an air race on Spain’s Menorca island, organisers said.

The two men were the only passengers of the plane, one of about 20 taking part in Air Race Menorca 2010, a spokesman for the Royal Mahon Flying Club which organised the event told AFP.

The aircraft crashed and burst into flames about 100 metres (yards) from the end of the runway of the club’s aerodrome shortly after taking off to join other planes that were to form an octagonal pattern in the sky.

The air race was called off following the accident.

The unidentified victims of the accident have lived on the Mediterranean island for years, according to Spanish media reports.