Police have confirmed that 66-year-old Ian Macdonald died in the crash near his home in the village of Burton in Lonsdale shortly before noon Monday. The other victim of the accident was 16-year-old student Admarsu Birhan, who according to the locals has been living with a close family for the last three months. Craven City Councilor Stuart Handley, who lives in Burton, Lonsdale, said Macdonald was very nice to the village. He told the PA news agency: “My condolences go out to the family of Ian Macdonald and also to the family of the German spare student. “Ian did not live in the village for long, but he became very well known in the community. He was a very dear person in the village “. Handley said Burton in Lonsdale was a friendly village and Macdonald was often seen in his shop and pub. “He would call me if I saw him outside and I would go talk to him,” he said. “Or in the store, if he drank a coffee, or a pint under the local. It fit well. “ Macdonald was reportedly coming to land his own Guimbal Cabri G2 near his home when the crash occurred in a field near the village, which borders Lancashire and Cumbria. On Tuesday, North Yorkshire police said: “The investigation into the full circumstances of the helicopter crash near Burton in Lonsdale is ongoing. “We can now give the names of those we believe are the two people who unfortunately died in the accident. “We believe it was a local 66-year-old Ian Macdonald and a 16-year-old Admarsu Birhan, a German national. “Official identification has not been made yet.” Aviation Accident Investigation Department officials were at the scene of the crash on Tuesday as the investigation continued. Peter Thompson, president of Burton’s Lonsdale parish council, said earlier: “We are a rural community of about 600 people. When that happens, it’s obviously worrying. “It’s very sad for everyone involved.”
