Dramatic video shows burning wreckage of light aircraft after mid-air crash with another plane kills three
Local reports say the two small airplanes hit the ground in different locations following the collision but that one crashed into a parked boat to cause raging fire
THREE people have been killed after a mid-air crash between two light aircraft that left a fireball burning in the middle of a lock-up.
The two small planes collided near a small airport in Texas, USA, yesterday shortly before 5.30pm local time when local people were getting ready to celebrate New Year’s Eve.
reports that local authorities in the town of McKinney would not confirm if all three victims were on board the planes or if one of them was on the ground near Aero Country Airport.
The names of the victims have not been released but one plane crashed at a nearby storage facility with footage showing a huge fireball burning away in the middle of the lock-up.
Local reports suggest the plane crashed into a boat kept in the facility, which caused the large amount of fire and smoke.
The other plane crashed on a road beside the lock-up with emergency crews responding to the crash at 5.27pm.
The Federal Aviation Administration is at the scene and the National Transportation Safety Board is investigating the incident.
Ana Shelley, from McKinney Police, said debris from the crash were “widespread” and that dozens of emergency vehicles were there late on Saturday. She said: “They've got a lot to do out there.”
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The Aero Country Airport does not have an air traffic control tower and pilots are required to announce landings and takeoffs via radio.
Alex Coats, 17, was watching one of the aircraft in flight on Saturday evening as a passenger in a friend's car.
He said: “I was just watching the Cessna fly and another plane came out of nowhere and hit the Cessna … They both went down in opposite directions.”
Rodney Livermore lives just three houses away from the airport's runway and said he was in “complete disbelief”.
He continued: “It was so unbelievable to see these two planes fall out of the air," he said. “It was so scary. My stomach is still in knots.”
McKinney Mayor Brian Loughmiller said in a statement: “We are devastated over the tragic plane crash that happened this evening near Aero Country Airport.
Our condolences go out to the families of those who were involved and we will keep them in our thoughts and prayers in the coming days.”
There have been two previous fatalities at the airport since it opened. According to government records a pilot died of severe burns after losing control of his plane and crashing into a line of trees in 1997.
And in 1983 a passenger died of a fatal head injury after exiting the plane while the engine was still running and walking into the arc of a propeller.
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