THE pilot killed when his microlight crash landed has been named as 54 year old Jaysukh Madhvani.

The father-of-two died as he attempted to land on an airstrip near Plaistowes Farm, in Chiswell Green.

Firefighters were called to the incident, near Gardens of the Rose, at 1.27pm on Wednesday afternoon.

Crews from Garston and St Albans attended the scene.

Mr Madhvani was a microlight instructor and ran two schools, one at Plaistowes Farm and another in Ware.

Kenyan-born, Mr Madhvani joined the Army at 19 and served 22 years in the Armoured Corps.

He began flying in 1992 and became an instructor in 1995.

A female passenger was taken to Milton Keynes Hospital by air ambulance having suffered pelvic and chest injuries. Her condition is described as critical.

Witnesses told firefighters they saw the microlight clip a tree over the fields and crash just before the runway.

Tim Atkinson from the Air Accidents Investigation Branch confirmed a full investigation was now under way.