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Two Ryanair pilots have been killed in a motorway crash while on their way to work, police said.
Matt Greenhalgh, 28, and Jamie Fernandes, 24, died after their taxi crashed on the M62 motorway in Cheshire shortly after 5.30am on Thursday.
The driver and co-driver were en route to Liverpool John Lennon Airport when the car was involved in a collision with two lorries on the westbound carriageway between junction eight and junction seven, near St Helens.
Both men died at the scene and their loved ones are being cared for by specialist officers from Cheshire Police.
The taxi driver was taken to hospital with serious injuries and remains in hospital.
Cheshire Police said the driver of one of the two lorries, a 61-year-old man, has been arrested on suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving and causing serious injury by dangerous driving.
Marple Rugby Club, where Mr Greenhalgh, believed to be from Stockport, played alongside his father, published a tribute to the former player.
“Everyone at Marple is saddened to learn of the untimely passing of former player Matt Greenhalgh. Matt played for us as a mini and junior, as part of a successful colts team and as a senior player, often alongside his very proud father John,” the statement read.
“Although he didn’t play regularly for a few years, Matt’s teammates from his youth days always spoke fondly of him as a player and as a guy. Our thoughts and condolences go out to John, the rest of Matt’s family, his friends and everyone who knew him.”
Ryanair employees also paid tribute to the two pilots. Jayne Smith, Ryanair’s cabin service supervisor in Liverpool, described the deaths of her two colleagues as “absolutely devastating”.
Others have changed their social media profile picture to a blacked-out Ryanair logo in commemoration.
According to his LinkedIn profile, Mr Fernandes only took up his first officer position at Ryanair in May, having previously held the positions of first and second junior officer.
He studied at Buckinghamshire New University and Bolton School, an independent school, before obtaining his pilot’s licence with Quebec company CAE.
Anyone with information or dashcam footage should contact Cheshire Police on 101 or via www.cheshire.police.uk//tell-us quoting IML 1867786.
