An experienced commercial airline pilot has been named as one of two men on board a light aircraft that crashed in Perthshire.
Andy Thompson was travelling in the aircraft, which was en route to Dundee from Inverness, when it disappeared in poor weather on Sunday.
It is not known if the 37-year-old or his fellow victim John MacKinnon was at the controls of the plane when it came down near Abernyte.
Mr Thompson’s LinkedIn profile states he was employed by low-costairline Jet2, where he had worked since December 2013.
A spokeswoman for Jet2 confirmed Mr Thompson, who was from Chester, held the post of first officer at the airline, flying Boeing 737 airliners.
Prior to joining the company, hespent three years working for American aerospace manufacturing company Hawker Beechcraft as a demonstration pilot.
Mr Thompson began his professional flying career in May 2005 with Highland Airways.
The second victim of the crashwas 53-year-old John MacKinnon of Ross-shire.
Mr MacKinnon owned George Street Motors in Dingwall, while he and his wife also operate the Deli in the Square in Strathpeffer.
The families of both men were too upset to speak.
Dingwall and Seaforth Councillor Margaret Paterson said: “It’s anabsolute tragedy. Mr MacKinnon was very well-known and well-liked in the town.
“My thoughts and prayers are with his family.”
Fellow councillor Alister MacKinnon added: “It’s just tragic news. The whole community is shocked and saddened.
“Ann and her family and their friends are in our thoughts and in our prayers.
“John was an absolutely lovely chap, very pleasant, very hospitable. He always had time to speak to you.”
A police spokeswoman said: “Police Scotland, along with partner agencies, continue to carry out investigations into the death of two men following anaircraft crash that happenednear Abernyte, Perthshire, on Sunday afternoon.
“While formal identification is yet to take place, it is understood that theoccupants of the light aircraft, which left Inverness airport on Sunday, were 37-year-old Andrew Thompsonfrom Chester and 53-year-old John MacKinnon from Ross-shire.”