At least six people have been killed by the collision of two U.S. military aircraft in mid-air while performing an air show at Dallas Executive Airport in the state of Texas, officials have confirmed.
«According to our Dallas County Medical Examiner, there are a total of 6 fatalities from the air show incident. Authorities will continue to work on the investigation and identification of the deceased,» Magistrate Clay Jenkins has made known on his Twitter account.
The aircraft involved in the crash were a Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress bomber and a Bell P-63 Kingcobra fighter, the Federal Aviation Administration has confirmed. When their trajectory coincided in the air, they crashed and their contact with the ground generated an explosion, as can be seen in the images released.
The show was part of a day to «relive history» on Veterans Day, in which spectators would be able to witness the maneuvers of 40 World War II-era aircraft, according to Fox News.
The city’s mayor, Eric Johnson, described the crash as a «terrible tragedy» and said the airport will remain closed until the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) completes its investigation.
However, the Pilots Association (APA) has identified Terry Barker and Len Root as two of those killed in the crash, while traveling in the B-17 Flying Fortress. «Our hearts go out to their families, friends and colleagues past and present,» they wrote on Twitter.
At a press conference, the president and CEO of the Commemorative Air Force has reported that four to five crewmembers normally travel in that aircraft, while the P-63 is «a single-pilot fighter.»
«I can tell you that it was normally manned. I cannot disclose the number of people involved or their names until the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) authorizes me to do so,» he said as reported by CNN.
More than 40 rescue units have been deployed to the scene following the collision, according to local media.
