KENT Police have released the names of two men who died in the microlight crash in Eastchurch on Sheppey at the weekend.

The pilot was Terry Stewart, 50, from the Orpington area. Also travelling in the microlight was Daniel Attubato, 35, who lived in Maidstone.

It was the first time Mr Attubato had been in a microlight. He had been given the flight as a present from relatives. He worked as a manager at Howdens Joinery in Gillingham Business Park.

Holidaymakers gasped in horror last Saturday as they watched Mr Stewart and his passenger plunge to their deaths when their plane broke up.

The V-shaped wing section became detached from the metal supports holding the two men in place. Their bodies were found on a ledge near the top of cliffs and the wing came to rest about 200ft below.

The tragedy happened at about 1.40pm on Saturday above Warden Cliffs at Connetts Farm, off Plough Road, Eastchurch.

Speaking at the scene, Insp Paul Sadd, said: “They had flown out from Rochester Airport and a joint investigation will be carried out by Kent Police and the Air Accident Investigation Branch."

A spokeswoman at the Rochester Microlight Flying School in Medway said: "We are absolutely devastated. The pilot was a very close friend of ours."

Thames Coastguard received several reports from holidaymakers who had seen the plane disintegrate before it fell to the ground in clear, fine weather.