Newlywed couple and two best friends die in Phuket plane crash

Two of the nine Britons confirmed dead, Stephen Saunby, 41, and Susan Howell, 27, were on their honeymoon.

The couple married in Bangkok last Friday before boarding the flight to the holiday island of Phuket two days later.

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With them were their close friends, Neil, 43, and Helen Slater, 31, who had been witnesses at their wedding.

Last night the four, from Scunthorpe, were named as victims along with Alex Collins from Maesteg, South Wales and Arthur and Judy Weston from Bristol.

Another victim was identified as Colin Denny.

Aaron Toland from Northern Ireland, who has dual Irish and British citizenship, also died. A further three British nationals are in hospital, one in a critical condition.

Sunday's crash happened during a monsoon. The budget airliner veered off the runway at Phuket, smashed into an embankment and burst into flames.

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Last night friends of Mr Saunby, a former pub landlord, said he had spent months planning the exotic wedding.

Close friend Robert Portlock, 38, said: "I knew him from when he was landlord and I stayed in touch with him after he left.

"He said he had a new girlfriend and was really happy. He said he was going to Thailand soon to get married."

The families of Helen and Neil Slater said the couple had been looking forward to the two-week trip to Thailand, where they married four years ago.

Mrs Slater's mother, Heather Spindley, and brother David Spindley, and Neil's parents, Edna and Noel Slater, paid tribute to the 'spontaneous' pair.

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In a statement they said: "Neil and Helen were really looking forward to their holiday.

"They have been together for nine years and were totally devoted to each other."

They said the couple had worked in the pub trade for many years, most recently co-owning and managing the Yarborough Hotel in Gainsborough, Lincolnshire.

Yesterday Mr Slater's former wife Jane Chudley, with whom he has a son called Luke, 18, said: "We're all devastated. It is awful to think that this happened just days after their friends' wedding."

The Westons were in Thailand on their way to Australia, where they planned to emigrate. They won their plane tickets to Bangkok in a competition.

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Investigators were yesterday collecting fingerprints and blood samples and X-raying teeth to help identify-other victims of the crash.

A Foreign Office spokesman said 27 British officials were now in Phuket helping those affected.

Foreign Secretary David Miliband said: "My thoughts are with all of those who have been affected and particularly with the families of the British nationals we now believe lost their lives."

Aviation experts speculated that the captain of the One-Two- Go plane might have been hit by a change in wind speed and direction as he was about to touch down.

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