Twenty years ago this Thursday, 47 people lost their lives and dozens were injured when a Boeing 737-400 ploughed into an embankment on the M1. Emergency crews from across the county worked through the night to help in the huge rescue operation. Superintendent Jack Atwal, of Derbyshire police, was one of the first officers to arrive at the scene. Two decades later, he has agreed to share his story. He spoke to Wendy Roberts.

I REMEMBER the Kegworth air crash clearly. Memories of the disaster stayed in my mind for a very long time afterwards.

I'd only been in the police force for a couple of years when the plane came down in Kegworth and I was still fairly new to the job.

What I saw that night was really distressing but, with my previous experience as a nurse, I was able to deal with it my own way.

I know that many people suffered as a result of being involved in the rescue operation. I was working a late shift that night. To be honest, I can remember it really well.

I'd been at the scene of a suspected burglary on Stores Road in Derby, when I was asked to make my way back to Full Street police station.

We were told that a plane was coming down near to East Midlands Airport and we were to make our way to the M1.

Within minutes, I was piling into a van with other officers, my Inspector and Sergeant. Then we headed off to pick up more officers from Cotton Lane and Pear Tree police stations.

There was a deathly silence in the back of the van as we made our way to the M1. It seemed really weird to me that no-one was talking. I remember sitting there quietly, wondering what we were going to find.

Some of the older officers who had served longer in the force told us not to worry. He said that we were probably being sent out on a exercise to test our response to an emergency situation.

In light of the Lockerbie plane crash a few weeks earlier, most of us were now convinced we were heading towards a training programme.

I felt slightly calmer to hear this news but this feeling was very short-lived.

When we approached the Junction 24 roundabout, you could clearly see the flashing blue lights of the emergency vehicles.

There was stunned silence when we spotted the plane. It was all crumpled up on the embankment.

We drove against the flow of traffic down the northbound carriageway of the M1 so we could get as close as possible to the scene of the crash.

My inspector, John McDonald, told us to stick together until he had received instructions from the senior police officer at the scene.

It turned out that the most senior officer was actually himself!

I was sent to work at the tail end of the aircraft where it had literally bent over. It was a really tricky place to be. It was so slippery underfoot and the embankment was very steep. The air was filled with the smell of fuel from the plane. I can remember feeling worried and wondering just what was going to happen next.

We worked hard and managed to get a few people out of the plane. They were injured, but they seemed okay. To be honest, I was surprised to see so many people alive.

It was tough getting the passengers on to stretchers and down the embankment. I saw a man from the AA, I think, and he was digging out steps with a shovel. His actions allowed the emergency services better access back up he embankment which was becoming increasingly hazardous.

In all the panic, it occurred to me just how useful that had been to us as we shuffled up the embankment.

It wasn't long before we were joined by two nurses from the Derbyshire Royal Infirmary's emergency flying squad. They got up inside the plane to help the passengers who needed immediate medical attention.

I remember thinking what a really unsafe position they were in and they asked for some headgear to protect them. I gave one of the girls my police helmet to wear.

A particular passenger still sticks in my mind today. He had leg injuries when he was pulled from the plane but he was totally conscious. As we carried him to safety, he looked up and me and asked if I could look after his duty free. He said he'd bought it and he wanted it kept safe. I'm not sure if it was adrenaline, fear or just his way of dealing with the situation.

I smiled to myself as we took him to an ambulance. He must have been suffering from shock or something. He clearly didn't realise the extent of his injuries.

Panic escalated when we heard that an infant had been onboard the plane. One of members of the cabin crew raised the alarm and it sent us all into overdrive. It was an awful time.

We were told that it was a baby boy and as yet he hadn't been found and taken off the plane.

After a while, we discovered that he had survived and had already been taken to hospital. That was the best news of a bad night – we all felt so relieved.

So many people helped in the rescue operation. We worked with members of the mountain rescue team, the AA, doctors, nurses and fire crews. Villagers from Kegworth and people travelling on the M1 at the time, also played an important part. I think the Army were there too.

It was a huge effort and everyone did a really good job. We all joined together with the same aim in mind – to rescue the injured.

During the night, I asked about the pilot. I was told that he had survived the crash. I heard that he was conscious as he was taken to the ambulances.

It was only when we took a break from our work that the true extent of the crash hit me. Here we were sipping tea and eating rolls served by The Salvation Army. As we stood on the M1, I could see the makeshift morgue, where dozens of bodies had been taken.

The whole scene was absolutely surreal.

It was remarkable that no vehicles were hit as the plane fell from the sky. At first we thought there must be cars trapped underneath, but that wasn't to be the case.

After a few hours, we were given permission to leave the site and head back to Derby.

Officers from Leicestershire Police had now turned up their numbers and were taking control.

At the station, we were told to go home and report to duty the following morning. We used to have a quick change-over of shifts in those days.

I think I got to bed at about 3am and was back at work at about 6am.

Margaret Thatcher wanted to come to Derbyshire Royal Infirmary to meet survivors and rescuers and we were going to be among the ones to greet her.

I think she arrived just after lunch time on the following day. Police officers, including myself, fire crews and ambulance staff were all there.

She talked to us about the events of the previous night and spent time meeting some of the injured passengers.

I've never forgotten what happened that night when the plane crashed at Kegworth. It's a memory which has stayed with me for all this time. It was a terrible, terrible event, but I was glad I was there to help.

My everlasting memory will be the contribution and efforts of the members of the public who either lived nearby or were just travelling nearby. Their efforts were tremendous in assisting the emergency services in a such a large-scale incident.