Captain Barnes worked with the Great North Air Ambulance. Photo: Peter McDermott CC-BY-SA-2.0

The boss of an air ambulance service paid tribute to the pilot killed in the helicopter crash in Vauxhall, south London today.

Captain Pete Barnes, whose Agusta aircraft hit a crane about 8am before plummeting to earth and exploding in flames, flew rescue missions including many to aid injured walkers and climbers in northern England.

Kevin Hodgson, director of operations at the Great North Air Ambulance Service, worked alongside Captain Barnes for several years, flying on life-saving missions across the North.

Capt Barnes stopped working with the charity about four years ago.

Mr Hodgson said: “Pete was as good a guy as you can imagine and one of the best pilots I’ve ever had the pleasure of flying with.

Over the years he will have flown on dozens of missions, no doubt saving lives along the way. Everyone at the charity is deeply saddened at this news. Our thoughts are with everyone affected by the tragedy.”

One other person died in the accident when Capt Barnes’s helicopter struck a tower crane at a construction site then plunged on to Wandsworth Road.

The Great North Air Ambulance charity operates three helicopters which support mountain rescue teams in situations where a helicopter can land and fly casualties to hospital.

Capt Barnes, who was 50, was described as one of the most experienced helicopter pilots in the country.

The former ski instructor had more than 10,000 hours of flying experience and was on a journey from Redhill Aerodrome in Surrey to Elstree, Hertfordshire, when the collision occurred in misty conditions.