6 Dead After World War II Aircrafts Collide At Dallas Air Show In US: Report

As per the reports, six people were killed after two historic military planes collided and crashed to the ground at a Dallas air display on Saturday.

Black smoke erupting after the two aircraft collided mid-air during an air show in Dallas in United States.

Source : AFP

New Delhi: The authorities on Sunday stated that six people died after two World War II-era military aircrafts collided during an air show in Dallas in the United States, news agency AFP reported. 

During the air display in Dallas, Texas, a B-17 Flying Fortress bomber and a P-63 Kingcobra fighter jet collided and crashed, erupting into a ball of flames and releasing black smoke.

According to our Dallas County Medical Examiner, there are a total of 6 fatalities from yesterday's Wings over Dallas air show incident, Dallas County Judge Clay Jenkins tweeted Sunday, news agency PTI reported. 

The official further added that the authorities are continuing to work to identify the victims. 

No paying customers were on the aircraft, said Coates, of Commemorative Air Force, which also owned the planes. Their aircraft are flown by highly trained volunteers, often retired pilots, he added.

#BREAKING: New angle of the mid-air collision obtained by @WFAA shows B-17 and other aircraft flying formations at #WingsOverDallas at 1:21p today, when it was hit by a P-63 and fell to the ground over the airfield at Dallas Executive Airport (RBD). pic.twitter.com/6NAS93b3re

— Jason Whitely (@JasonWhitely) November 12, 2022

The report stated that a team from the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) will arrive at the crash site on Sunday and added that Dallas Mayor, Eric Johnson said that the NTSB has taken control of the crash scene with local police and fire providing support. 

The planes collided and crashed around 1:20 p.m., the Federal Aviation Administration said in a statement. The collision occurred during the Commemorative Air Force Wings Over Dallas show.

The B-17, a cornerstone of U.S. air power during World War II, is an immense four-engine bomber used in daylight raids against Germany. The Kingcobra, a U.S. fighter plane, was used mostly by Soviet forces during the war. Most B-17s were scrapped at the end of World War II and only a handful remain today, largely featured at museums and air shows, according to Boeing.

People who witnessed the crash said that the planes were “pulverised”. 

“I just stood there. I was in complete shock and disbelief. Everybody around was gasping. Everybody was bursting into tears. Everybody was in shock,” said another witness.