AN inquest is set to be held later this week into the death of a Suffolk pilot and businessman who was killed in a light aircraft crash in northern Turkey.

Michael Newman, from Benhall, was flying a two-seater plane when it went down in May 2007.

A spokeswoman for Suffolk police confirmed the inquest into his death would take place on Wednesday, at Lowestoft Coroners Court based at Lowestoft Magistrates’ Court.

The Sky Arrow 650T plane went missing while en route to Iran, after taking off from Trabzon Airport in northern Turkey.

Mr Newman, who was married with two adult sons, had been on a flying trip from England to Pakistan when his plane crashed.

Pakistani passenger Zaka Ulab Bhamgoo also died in the crash. The aircraft was found in a mountainous area near the town of Koprubasi in Trabzon province,

Known as Mick to his friends and family, Mr Newman had been the co-founder and co-director of Ipswich-based yacht designing company, Spirit Yachts Ltd, for about 15 years.

Speaking after the accident, his business partner Sean McMillan described him as “an extremely talented man’’ and “a very, very keen amateur flyer’’.