During a Dallas air show on Saturday, two World War II military aircraft clashed and crashed, erupting into a ball of flames and spewing black smoke into the air. As of now, it is still unknown how many people were on board, according to a report by AP.
Emergency services flocked to the crash site at Dallas Executive Airport, some 10 miles (16 km) outside the city center. Broadcast footage from the incident shows debris from the jets found in a grassy area within the airport's boundaries.
IN FLIGHT - MAY 31: In this handout image provided by the U.S. Air Force, the "Sally B" B-17 Flying Fortress (C) is escorted by Royal Air Force Spitfires as they perform fly-bys during the Memorial Day ceremony held at Madingley American Cemetery May 31, 2004 near the city of Cambridge in the United Kingdom. The cemetery was first established on December 7, 1943 and construction was completed in 1956.
Were People Injured?
The Dallas Morning News was informed by the Dallas Fire Rescue that there were no injuries among people on the ground.
Anthony Montoya, 27, was one of the witnesses of the collision. He said in a statement with AP: "I just stood there. I was in complete shock and disbelief. Everybody around was gasping. Everybody was bursting into tears. Everybody was in shock."
The number of passengers on board the aircraft was not disclosed by the officials, but Hank Coates, president of the organization that organized the airshow, noted that one of the aircraft was a B-17 Flying Fortress bomber, which generally has a crew of four to five people. The other is a single-pilot P-63 Kingcobra fighter aircraft.
Coates added that the two aircraft had no paying customers on board. He claimed that it was flown by skilled volunteers, who are oftentimes retired pilots.
The NTSB has assumed responsibility for the crash site, according to Dallas Mayor Eric Johnson, with assistance from the local police and fire departments.
According to a statement from the Federal Aviation Administration, the planes crashed around 1:20 pm. The incident took place during the Commemorative Air Force Wings Over Dallas performance.
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Bomber and Fighter Plane
The massive four-engine bomber known as the B-17 was a hallmark of American air power during WW2 and was deployed in daytime raids against Germany. During the conflict, Soviet forces mostly utilized the American fighter plane known as the Kingcobra.
According to Boeing, the majority of B-17s were destroyed at the end of World War II, and today there is only a small number that are shown at museums and air shows.
In several footage shared on social media, it appeared that the bomber and fighter plane collided, sending a huge ball of flames and smoke into the air and bringing them quickly to the ground.
According to officials, the FAA is now starting an investigation into the incident.
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Written by Jace Dela Cruz
