A man who died in a plane crash in the French Alps has been named.

Dr Shimon Awerbuch, a world renowned financial economist died after his plane crashed during a snow storm in the French Alps.

He was an American national and senior fellow at the University of Sussex. A woman and Dr Awerbuch's son Everett, who is understood to be in his early teens, also died in the crash.

Dr Awerbuch advised some of the biggest organisations and businesses in the world, including the World Bank and the United Nations, on policy.

His friend Keith Savidge, a retired detective, said: "It is an absolute tragedy."

He had moved to Brighton around five years ago from Paris and moved into a flat at Cavendish House, King's Road, Hove.

Residents at the block of flats near the West Pier said they had been shocked at the news.

Dr Awerbuch, who was in his 50s, was a keen pilot and regularly flew the Piper PA 34 Seneca plane which he owned to destinations around the globe.

It had been modified to cope with long distance flights and friends told The Argus Dr Awerbuch was an experienced pilot.

However the aircraft crashed into the mountainside as it approached Grenoble in thick snow on Saturday afternoon.

It is understood he was on his way to Cannes on the French Riviera for a holiday.

The aircraft took off from Shoreham Airport at 10.30am on Saturday.

The bodies were discovered at the crash scene after mountain rescue teams searched for them throughout Saturday night.

The airport's manager, John Haffenden, said: "The plane certainly flew regularly from here to other airports both in the UK and abroad."

The pilot contacted air traffic control at around 2pm to say he was in trouble, but the plane disappeared from radar screens moments later.

When found, it had appeared to have hit a rock face and broken apart on impact, killing all three on board instantly.

The French authorities are continuing their investigations into the crash today.

Dr Awerbuch had held posts at the University of Sussex since 2002 when he moved to Britain. The family originally came from America and all held US passports.

Dr Awerbuch worked as an economist in the Science and Technology Policy Research department at the University of Sussex.

He has been published extensively and had also advised some of the biggest companies in the world on policy and investments.

Mr Savidge said: "I first met Shimon when me and my wife were staying at a hotel in Sussex one weekend. We were at the next table.

"Shimon was singing along to himself and I said in jest "don't give up the day job". He laughed and they came and joined us at our table.

"From that day we became very good friends and we flew with him to Alderney to buy a wedding present. He was a good pilot.

"It has all come as a terrible shock so far but we are coping."