The millionaire family killed when their helicopter crashed in Snowdonia were flying to Ireland to surprise their niece at her confirmation party, it emerged today.
Property developer Kevin Burke, 56, his wife Ruth, 49, his brothers Barry and Donald, 51 and 55, and sister in law Sharon, 48, are all feared dead in Wednesday's air disaster.
Their Twin Squirrel red helicopter is believed to have left the Burke's Milton Keynes mansion heading to Dublin, where Mrs Burke is from, but crashed into the Rhinog Fawr mountains in Snowdonia near the giant Trawsfynydd lake reservoir.
A family friend claims that they were on a secret trip to make their niece's confirmation party and the alarm was raised when they failed to make it to Ireland.
The source told the Irish Sun: 'The family were flying in to attend a confirmation for a niece and wanted to surprise her on the big day.
'They were due to arrive in for a party that evening. Then word started to filter through that something was wrong during the afternoon, but the family made every effort to keep their composure.
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| Hunt: This is the helicopter with five people on board that has been found crashed in North Wales with the dead passengers (pictured here at Elstree Studios) |
'They are absolutely heartbroken. They're a very close family and are understandably devastated.'
The five bodies remain at the 'remote and treacherous' North Wales crash site today after bad weather first hampered the hunt for the wreckage and is now preventing their remains being removed from the mountains.
Chief Inspector Richie Green said today it is only accessible on foot and is a two hour walk from the nearest ‘discernible road’. 80 people are working on the operation.
He said: 'Weather is unfortunately worsening making the task of getting both personnel and their equipment there alone very difficult and potentially dangerous.
'That said both Police and Mountain Rescue Teams are utterly determined and focused in recovering all those lost as quickly and as sensitively as possible so they can be reunited with their families'.
The suspected deaths of Kevin Burke, his wife, his brothers and sister-in-law has left six children without parents.
A spokesman for the family said last night: 'Six children have lost their parents in this tragedy.
'At this stage the family wants to be left alone to be able to deal with their grief over this terrible loss and concentrate upon looking after the children.'
Among those to pay tribute to the couple was model Danielle Lloyd, who said: 'Such sad news about Ruth and Kevin Burke.
'They were two of the nicest people I've ever had the privilege to meet and my thoughts and prayers are with all the family.'
Police and a mountain rescue team found the wreckage in Snowdonia's Rhinog Fawr mountains near Trawsfynydd lake, which is one of Britain's largest reservoirs.
But it lost contact as it passed over North Wales, which was battered by gale force winds, heavy rain and had visibility of less than 10 metres in places because of low cloud.
It had been due to refuel in Wales before continuing to Ireland, according to reports, and the five on board are said to have been travelling to surprise a niece who was part of a religious ceremony in the Irish capital.
Mr Burke's father Dónal is from Kilcummin in Western Ireland, and his uncle Michael Burke lives in Ballycastle, Northern Island.
The Burkes are said to have many cousins in Ireland and Northern Ireland.
Police, mountain rescue teams and other personnel are still at the scene, but may have to call off the recovery overnight due to the weather and terrain.
A spokesman for the force in North Wales confirmed all the victims were adults and from the same extended family in Milton Keynes.
Supt Gareth Evans said: 'Owing to the nature and remoteness of the terrain, the poor weather conditions and the absolute need carry out this delicate task with sensitivity and dignity this may take some time.
'Their recovery is not just important to their families, but also the investigation as it may help identify any contributory factors.
'Formal identification is yet to take place and this may take some time.
'All the families of those on board the aircraft are being supported by specialist Police Family Liaison Officers and fully updated with developments'.
A joint investigation led by the Air Accident Investigation Branch (AAIB) is now underway and a no-fly zone has been enforced.
The helicopter is owned by Staske Construction Ltd, which is run by Mr and Mrs Burke, and they rent out the red aircraft and others they own to TV and film crews from a helipad in the grounds of their Buckinghamshire farmhouse.
Their business has been running for 21 years and works on major projects including the local hospital and football stadium in Milton Keynes.
The married couple, who have a teenage son and a daughter in her 20s, had recently moved into their luxury farmhouse in Milton Keynes, and a neighbour close to their home told MailOnline: 'He (Kevin) is a helicopter pilot. When I heard the news I thought it might be him. His wife is Irish and they could have been flying over there'.
Speaking outside the couple's home, another man who described himself only as a close friend and refused to give his name, said: 'They were both in the machine, yes.'
Family friend Paul Dawes, of Over Peover, Cheshire said: 'Kevin and Ruth were aboard with extended members of the family.
'They'll never make anyone like him - it's heartbreaking for the family.'
Mr Dawes said the children's uncle Paul, Mrs Burke's brother, has travelled to Milton Keynes to be with them.
The search for the aircraft was hampered by bad weather but the wreckage was located in Snowdonian mountains this morning.
Initially investigators incorrectly believed it had made it to the Irish Sea.
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