Aerobatic Disaster in the Air: Two Planes Collide, One Pilot Killed
During the Beja Air Show in southern Portugal on Sunday, a collision between two small planes resulted in the death of one pilot and the injury of another.
In a statement by the Air Force, it was said, “The Air Force regrets to report that at 16:05 (1505 GMT) during the Beja Air Show, involving six aircraft, two planes were involved in an accident.”
The statement mentioned that the deceased pilot was a Spanish national. An Air Force spokesperson told AFP that the pilot who died was one of the pilots of the colliding planes, while another pilot, a Portuguese national, sustained minor injuries and received emergency treatment before being taken to Beja hospital.
Portuguese Defense Minister Nuno Melo described the incident as a “tragic accident” and announced that an investigation would be launched to “determine the exact cause” of the collision. President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa expressed his sorrow, stating, “This was supposed to be a moment of entertainment and shared enjoyment. Instead, it turned into a moment of sorrow.”
Aerobatic Group and Aircraft
The Air Force explained that the six aircraft involved in the accident were part of an aerobatic group called “Yak Stars,” consisting of Spanish and Portuguese pilots. The planes that collided were Soviet-designed Yakovlev Yak-52 models.
A video taken by a spectator and posted on social media showed six planes in flight, with one aircraft ascending and colliding with another, then crashing to the ground in a cloud of smoke.
The Air Force stated that one of the planes crashed outside the air base area, while the other plane involved in the collision managed to land on the airport runway, with no casualties among the spectators.
According to the Beja Air Show website, the “Yak Stars” were participating in the event along with approximately 30 other European aerobatic groups. Organizers promoted the group as the largest civilian aerobatic team in Southern Europe. The Air Force noted that the organizers of the show, which began on Saturday, had suspended the event.
The Air Force extended its “deepest condolences” to the family of the deceased pilot.
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