Two men who helped pull survivors from the flaming wreckage of a plane which crashed on a dual carriageway have been revealed.

The light aircraft came down on the A40 near Abergavenny in south east Wales, leaving three people trapped inside the blazing inferno.

First on the scene was Daniel Nicholson who pulled two passengers from the wreckage after smashing the plane's windows.

The 46-year-old was returning from picking his son up from a friend's when the plane plummeted to the ground directly in front of him just after 11am.

Daniel said: "The plane came from nowhere, and if it had been two seconds later it would have hit us.

Daniel Nicholson, pictured with his wife Joanne, was the first rescuer on the scene
The plane wreckage on the A40 in south east Wales

"The plane literally burst into flames in front of me and it had landed upside down.

"I screeched to a halt, and didn't hesitate - I could see there were people in there.

"I could see a young girl from my side, as there was no fire my side, and I knew I could get access.

"She was terrified, screaming because she could see the fire.

"I initially tried to smash the front window of the plane but I couldn't.

The aircraft hit an electricity pole as it came down

"Then I noticed a crack in the back and began kicking it.

"She was kicking from the inside, helping and eventually I was able to drag her out and a boy who looked to be a sibling, they seemed a similar age, around 19-20."

Daniel was assisted by another rescuer, from the other side of the dual carriageway, as they struggled to pull the pilot out.

Daniel added: "Another guy helped me, I think he was called Joel - he came from the other side of the barrier."

That man was Joel Snarr, a 35-year-old ex bomb sergeant.

Wreckage on A40 after the plane crash this morning

Snarr, who was medically discharged with PTSD this year, was in the car with his wife when the aircraft came down.

He bolted towards the scene where he found another young man trying to kick through the window of the plane.

He told the BBC: "There was someone from the other side of the dual carriageway, trying to kick the window through.

"I grabbed the lady by the belt and pulled her out.

"The pilot then put out his hands and I heaved him out."

The plane crashed onto the dual carriageway

He added: "We got them away from the plane, which was getting hotter and hotter."

Daniel continued: "I thought the pilot might have been the two passenger's dad but I wasn't sure - Joel pulled him out, but by then the plane was completely engulfed.

"I ran to my son who was waiting in the car, reversed as the flames were increasing.

"It only took the fire engines 10-15 minutes to get there, but it was all so blurred.

"It happened so quickly but I'm glad we got them out."

Traffic came to a standstill after the plane crashed into the road

The Fire Service requested all trains were stopped in the area due to the plane hitting the overhead power cables.

A spokeswoman for the Welsh Ambulance Service said two people have been taken to hospital with “minor injuries”.

They were taken to Nevill Hall Hospital in Abergavenny by ambulance.

Gwent Police said in a statement: "The aircraft was reported to have made an unscheduled landing in the area, colliding with overhead wiring.
