Family of plane crash victim speak of their ‘sense of loss’

The family of a Briton who died when a Russian passenger plane crashed while trying to land have spoken of their sense of loss.
Foreign Secretary William HagueForeign Secretary William Hague
Foreign Secretary William Hague

Mother-of-two Donna Bull was among the 50 people who died as the Boeing 727 was reportedly attempting a second landing at Kazan Airport in Tatarstan when it hit the ground and caught fire on Sunday evening.

Ms Bull’s widower Robert Crome answered the door at the family home in Cambridge yesterday but was too distraught to talk.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

He later issued a statement, saying it was a “very difficult and emotional time” for the family as they tried to come to terms with the shock and loss.

He said: “Donna was a wonderful mother to George and Kate, kind, thoughtful and caring to her family and her many friends.

“She was also a dedicated and hard-working professional, as a teacher and educationalist, so her students will all miss her greatly. Words are inadequate to express our grief and loss.

“We hope that the UK and Russian authorities can help to ease any administrative difficulties. We extend our heartfelt sympathies to all those families in Russia who too have lost their loved ones in this tragedy.”

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Foreign Secretary William Hague expressed his condolences, saying: “I was saddened to learn of the loss of life following yesterday’s aeroplane crash. My thoughts are with the friends and family of those involved. We are providing consular assistance to the family of the British national whose death has now sadly been confirmed, and our British Embassy in Moscow will remain in close contact with the Russian authorities as they respond to this tragedy.”

Ms Bull was “a very popular and well-respected member of staff” at Bellerbys College in Cambridge.

James Pitman, managing director for Study Group’s higher education division – Bellerbys College and International Study Centres – confirmed Ms Bull’s death and that of her Moscow-based colleague.

In a statement, he said: “We have received confirmation of the very sad news that our Bellerbys colleagues Donna Bull and Yana Baranova were on the plane that crashed in the Russian city of Kazan.

“Donna had flown out from the UK to Moscow earlier in the day, where she met Yana, and the two were heading to Kazan for the start of a 10-day marketing trip.”

Related topics: