Tributes have poured in after the first victim was named following a horror mid-air collision which killed four people.

Captain Mike Green has been named as one of the pilots involved in the crash between a helicopter and light aircraft which happened over Buckinghamshire on Friday (November 17).

Police has confirmed that all fatalities were male, including two pilots and two passengers.

Tributes have poured in following the identification of the "well-respected" pilot who previously trained with the army.

'No negligence'

Speaking to the Press Association, a former colleague and friend claimed the two aircraft crashed "accidentally" and was not down to "negligence".

Captain Phil Croucher, 65, who served in the army with the deceased, also believed to be in his 60s, said Captain Green was on a training flight with a young student.

He said claims on a pilot forum by an air traffic controller who said he saw the aircraft disappear on radar suggested the two had collided accidentally.

He added the claims were that the helicopter had been flying a straight path and the aircraft was descending, and the pilot would have been unable to see due to "blind spots" below and behind, although he added it was "conjecture".

"From the available evidence, it's as near to a proper accident as you are likely to see - no negligence, absolutely none," he said.

"That airspace was free airspace."

He continued: "He's gone through no fault of his own and everyone's lost a good friend and mentor.

'Sad loss'

"It's a sad loss. We have lost somebody with a vast amount of experience that could have been passed on to younger people, apart from him being a nice guy generally.

"I used to see him, I popped in on Wednesday when I was passing and had a cup of tea.

"He was always there before anybody else."

Captain Mike Green has been named as the first victim of the mid-air collision over Buckinghamshire

Thames Valley Police confirmed on Saturday (November 18) that the four fatalities includes two pilots and two passengers, all of which were male.

Superintendent Rebecca Mears said: "We remain on scene following this incident in which tragically four men lost their lives.

"All four of the men’s families have been informed and they are being offered ongoing support by Thames Valley Police.

"Three of the families have today visited the scene supported by specialist family liaison officers from Thames Valley Police.

"With the ongoing support of emergency services, work is continuing to recover the men’s bodies from the scene.

"We anticipate that this will happen by the end of the day."

Debris at the crash site following Buckingham mid-air collision

She continued: "With support from ourselves, the Air Accident Investigation Branch are continuing their work to understand the circumstances of this incident.

"We would like to thank the Waddesdon estate for their support of the emergency services in responding to this incident, and we would also like to thank the public for their continued patience."

Residents of the village reported hearing a large bang when the aircraft collided at 12.06pm near the Waddesdon Manor estate owned and maintained by the Rothschild family.

They have since sent their condolences to the families affected by the tragic incident.

Buckinghamshire mid-air collision scene

It said: "Lord Rothschild and his family extend their condolences to the families of all affected, and their thanks to the emergency services for their swift response and professionalism."

Wycombe Air Park, a private aerodrome not far from the crash, confirmed to getwestlondon that both aircraft had taken off from the air park.

Buckinghamshire Fire and rescue sent 35 firefighters to the scene to assist Thames Valley Police, South Central Ambulance and Thames Valley Air Ambulance at the scene.

Nearby RAF Halton has confirmed that none of the aircraft involved were from the military.

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