A WOMAN who died when a light aircraft being flown by her husband crashed into a field in Kent has been identified.

She was Danielle Rippon, 66, of The Street, Smarden, near Ashford.

The plane ploughed into a field at Bethersden, near Ashford, on Sunday. Mrs Rippon's husband, Max, survived but was injured. Air crash investigators are now trying to discover the cause of the tragedy which has left villagers at Smarden stunned.

Parish councillor and family friend Brian Bristow said: “Max and Danielle have been known and loved by many parishioners. The villagers are united in their grief and are right behind Max and his family at this terrible time.”

The tiny Dyn’Aero plane crashed into a field off Bethersden's Fridd Lane, just before 3pm on Sunday.

French-born Mrs Rippon died at the scene and her husband was taken to Ashford’s William Harvey Hospital. The couple moved to Smarden in 1966.

Mr Bristow and his wife Sarah had been their friends since the early 1980s.

Another close family friend, Jinx Rodger, said: “Danielle was a quiet but charming woman who had a lot of friends. She was a good cook and loved to travel.

“The family this week are together grieving in private but the village post office has been inundated with people asking after them.”

Mr Rippon left hospital on Tuesday. He later joined his children, William and Isabelle, who live in France, and Bruce, who lives in London. The children are all in their 40s.

The inquest into Mrs Rippon’s death was opened and adjourned in Dover on Wednesday.

FULL STORY IN THIS WEEK'S KENTISH EXPRESS