Plane crashes into Linatex headquarters

YATELEY, England (Dec. 27)—Industrial rubber products group Linatex was hit by a major blaze Dec. 23 when a twin-engine plane crashed into its headquarters and British manufacturing base at Yateley, 40 miles southwest of London. Five people on board the plane were killed when their fuel-laden aircraft exploded in flames at the factory, just after takeoff from nearby Blackbushe Airport. There were no reports of injuries among the work force at the site, which had closed for Christmas. While confirming the incident, a company spokeswoman would not give details of damage to the offices, production and warehouse facilities at the site. Linatex´s British operation, which has annual sales of around $12 million, manufactures abrasion-resistant rubber products for the mining industry and flexible hose. Linatex is a subsidiary of Elementis P.L.C.