Ketan Swali, 59, and Sheetal Swali, 55, died after their light aircraft crashed in a remote part of Gwynedd, North Wales. The couple were flying from Tatenhill Airport near Burton-upon-Trent to Caernarfon Airport on August 14 when their aircraft failed to arrive as expected.
A search was launched before the plane was found in a remote area near Trawsfynydd, Gwynedd. The pair, from Syston in Leicestershire, were pronounced dead.
Tributes from flying club
Ketan was a member of a Staffordshire flying club, where he was remembered as a "popular" member with a passion for aviation. The club said in an online tribute: "Ketan was a very popular member and loved to talk about flying and aviation."
"Our heartfelt condolences go to their families and friends at this difficult time," the club added.
Investigation and cause of death
The couple had been travelling in a Piper PA-28 light aircraft. The Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) has launched an investigation into the crash, with North Wales Police supporting the probe. Their provisional cause of death has been recorded as major impact trauma.
Chief Superintendent Owain Llewellyn said: "Our thoughts are with the families and friends of those involved in this tragic incident."
"We will support the AAIB with their investigation to ensure the circumstances leading to this incident are fully understood. This has been a challenging search operation and I am grateful to all of the agencies involved for their professionalism and dedication," he added.
