A HELICOPTER pilot who died in a crash in central London this morning has been named as Pete Barnes from Mortimer.

One other person was killed and others injured when the helicopter spun out of control and hit a crane at the top of a building site in Vauxhall at around 8am. It crash-landed near Vauxhall station after the pilot attempted to divert the aircraft to a helipad.

Mr Barnes, who has reportedly piloted helicopters in action scenes in films including Die Another Day, Tomb Raider II and Saving Private Ryan, worked for flight operator RotorMotion , and also ran his own business, Helivision, based at his home in Goddards Green, Berkshire.

Captain Philip Amadeus, managing director of RotorMotion, based in Surrey, said the aircraft was on a commercial flight from Redhill, in Surrey, to Elstree. He said: “Our main priority now is for the family of the pilot and we extend our greatest sympathy to the friends and relatives of those who have died and been injured.”

Commander Neil Basu, from the Metropolitan Police, said at a press conference near the scene of the crash: “It was something of a miracle that this was not many, many times worse.”