‘He had so many plans’: Family pay tribute to Bucks student who died in lorry crash

Jamie Fernandes, who studied air transport management at Buckinghamshire New University before becoming senior first officer for Ryanair in May, died in a crash between a taxi and two lorries on the M62 on Thursday, July 11. He had been travelling to Liverpool Airport with colleague Matt Greenhalgh, 28, who also sadly died at the scene. The taxi driver was taken to hospital with serious injuries and, following police enquiries, a 61-year-old man who had been driving one of the lorries was arrested on suspicion of causing death and serious injury by dangerous driving.

He has been released on conditional bail. Jamie’s family released a statement about the “special young man” who grew up in Bolton on Friday, July 26. They said: “Jamie was living his best life and had so many plans for the future.

In his too-short life, he packed in so much and made the most of every moment. “We are grateful that he had achieved the dream he had from childhood of flying. He looked forward to every day at work where it is obvious he was with a very special family of colleagues and friends, and, as he said, ‘The sun always shines above the clouds.’

“Jamie loved spending time with his friends, playing golf, squash and was a keen hockey player. All of his friends from both school and the flying community were hugely important to him. He was so very kind and had a wicked sense of humour.

“We have been truly overwhelmed by the outpouring of love and affection to our family, which shows (how special) Jamie was and how he clearly touched the lives of more people than we could have ever imagined. “Our darling boy was a loving grandson, nephew and cousin. He is the light of our lives and always will be.”

Funds raised from a GoFundMe page set up independently of Jamie and Matt’s families will go towards creating a scholarship trust to help people from all backgrounds on their journeys to become pilots.

Ryanair will also erect a plaque bearing their names at East Midlands Training Centre and introduce the ‘Matt Greenhalgh and Jamie Fernandes Memorial Award’, to be presented to the top performing cadet each year.