'Top drawer' pilot was father of 3

Captain Paul Phillips the British pilot of the freight plane was highly experienced and highly rated.

Originally from Liverpool, Capt Phillips, 47, was living with his wife and three young children - a boy and two girls - in Bahrain.

Representatives from his employer, DHL Worldwide Express, went there this morning to break the terrible news then stayed with the family for several hours as they struggled to understand what had happened.

A spokesman for the company said: "At the very last moment, when alerted by his aircraft's collision avoidance system, Capt Phillips tried to take corrective action. Tragically it was too late."

With 10,000 flight hours Capt Phillips was among the company's most senior pilots. An industry source described him as "top drawer".

His Canadian assistant, First Flight Officer Brant Campioni, 34, who was married with no children, also died in the crash.