Three members of the bin Laden family died in a plane crash in a UK airport, according to reports on Arabic media. The plane, which went down at Blackbushe airport about 40 miles outside London, was said to have been carrying four passengers including the pilot. Though early reports conflict, multiple Arabic sources say several bin Laden family members were aboard.
Here's what we know so far.
1. The carrier was a Saudi-registered private jet returning from Italy. The crash happened when the craft tried to land at the airport, the BBC reported. Witnesses report a billow of black smoke rising from the tarmac. The Hampshire Constabulary reported that all four passengers were killed.
2. Unconfirmed reports on Arabic media purport Osama bin Laden's step mother was killed, along with his half sister and her husband. It's important to note — these are all unconfirmed claims, and media reports have yet to name the deceased.
3. Given bin Laden's swollen family tree, it's going to be difficult to find out who was killed until an official statement is released. Osama bin Laden alone had at least 20 children and five wives, and that's just the ones who've been accounted for. The larger family tree consists of prominent Saudi buisnesspeople and many, many siblings, so we might be waiting a while for these confirmations.
Check out some early Twitter reactions and the video of the crash below. More to come.
Osama bin Laden's half sister, Sana, her husband, and mother said to have died in today's plane crash in the UK. pic.twitter.com/0fh1LqNAB7
— Rori Donaghy (@roridonaghy86) July 31, 2015
BREAKING: Members of Osama bin Laden's family died in a private plane crash in London https://t.co/MsA6h2nlZu
— Conflict News (@rConflictNews) July 31, 2015
Osama Bin #Laden stepmother & his sister among 4 dead as #Saudi registered plane' crashes on landing in Blackbushe https://t.co/R9AQo38iig
— SaadAbedine (@SaadAbedine) July 31, 2015
In '76 Osama bin Laden's father was killed in a plane crash. So was his brother Salem in '88. Today his half sister killed in UK crash. #PT
— Rori Donaghy (@roridonaghy86) July 31, 2015
Correction: A previous version of this article stated the plane was headed en route to Italy. This in incorrect. The plane had arrived from Italy to the UK airport.
