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Thousands raised by industry after tragic deaths of three BA cabin crew
More than £40,000 has been raised by a fundraising page set up by British Airways cabin crew after three of their colleagues were killed in a crash outside Heathrow Airport just before midnight on New Year’s Eve.
Two of the crew have been named in tributes as Joe Finnis, 25, and Dominic Fell, 23. A 20-year-old woman was also killed in the crash and a fourth passenger, 25, also a BA crew member, was seriously injured and is in hospital.
Their car, a Toyota Yaris, crashed with a dnata lorry on Bedfont Road, in Stanwell, at around 23:40. The driver of the lorry escaped injury.
It is believed two of the crew had flown into London earlier on New Year’s Eve but had finished work by 6pm and were not leaving work at the time of the accident.
A Go Fund Me page raised its £2,000 target in just one hour and the amount had jumped to more than £60,000 by 5pm on Thursday.
Donations continue to flood in, many from fellow airline crew and others who work in the travel industry.
The page has been shared by travel agents on social media with dozens expressing their shock and sadness.
Called ‘BA Angels Fund’, the money will be used to buy flower arrangements for the funerals and to make a donation to a charity chosen by the families of the victims.
"Also the crew member who is in hospital will need all the support and help they can need after they get out of hospital and as such I would like to be able to give them a nice sum of money, to help them in those first few months," wrote Stephen Crook, who set up the page.
"I know it is January and I know that money is tight but I know that as a fleet we will pull together and make this happen," he added. "Rest In Peace Guys, Go Fly The Skies Eternal."
A spokesman for British Airways said it was deeply saddened by the news.
"Our thoughts are with their family and friends, who we are supporting at this distressing time."
The Surrey and Sussex Roads Policing Unit is appealing for witnesses to the incident.
"We would urge anyone who may have any video footage, CCTV or dash cam or any other kind, to get in touch with us," it said.
Bev
Editor in chief Bev Fearis has been a travel journalist for 25 years. She started her career at Travel Weekly, where she became deputy news editor, before joining Business Traveller as deputy editor and launching the magazine’s website. She has also written travel features, news and expert comment for the Guardian, Observer, Times, Telegraph, Boundless and other consumer titles and was named one of the top 50 UK travel journalists by the Press Gazette.
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