A TWIN-ENGINED VIKING AIRLINER TAKING 36 BRITONS TO A SUNSHINE HOLIDAY IN SPAIN CRASHED IN THE PYRENEES SHORTLY AFTER MIDNIGHT YESTERDAY (THURSDAY).ALL DIED INSTANTLY INCLUDING THE FRENCH CREW OF FOUR.

THE PLANE STRUCK THE 5,400 FT.PEAK OF LA ROQUETTE ONLY 15 FT.BELOW CLEARANCE POINT.IT HIT DURING A WILD MOUNTAIN STORM AND WITHIN SECONDS OF THE PILOT RADIOING: "I WILL BE LANDING IN A VERY SHORT WHILE."
THERE HAVE BEEN SEVEN CRASHES IN THE AREA IN WHICH 91 PEOPLE HAVE LOST THEIR LIVES IN THE LAST 12 YEARS.

TODAY POLICE, SOLDIERS AND VILLAGERS HAVE SET OUT TO RECOVER THE BODIES.A TEMPORARY MORTUARY HAS BEEN SET UP IN THE TOWN HALL OF PRADES.

THE CRASHED VIKING WAS OWNED BY AIRNAUTIC OF PARIS AND CHARTERED BY A BRITISH TRAVEL FIRM.IT TOOK OFF FROM AN AIRPORT IN SOUTHERN ENGLAND AT 8.40 ON WEDNESDAY NIGHT AND WAS DUE TO LAND AT PERPIGNAN SHORTLY AFTER MIDNIGHT.

INVESTIGATORS BELIEVE THE PLANE WAS SWEPT OFF COURSE BY VIOLENT WINDS AND DRIVING HAIL.A SHEPHERD TENDING HIS FLOCK HEARD THE EXPLOSION AS THE PLANE STRUCK THE MOUNTAINSIDE.IT TOOK HIM SOME HOURS TO REACH THE NEAREST POLICE STATION.