The Colombian Air Force (FAC) is investigating a tragic accident that occurred during a training mission on Saturday, resulting in the loss of two pilots. Two Embraer T-27 Tucano aircraft collided mid-air and crashed during the exercise in central Colombia. The FAC has not released the identity of the second pilot, and an investigation is underway to determine the cause of the collision.

Video footage of the accident has surfaced on Twitter, showing the aircraft bursting into flames before plummeting to the ground. The FAC confirmed the death of Lieutenant Colonel Mario Andrés Espinosa González, who was in command of one of the Tucano planes. He was scheduled to perform an aerobatic show at this year’s Aeronautical Fair in Rionegro, Antioquia.

Investigation into the Cause of the Collision

The FAC has sent an inspection commission to the crash site to investigate the cause of the accident. The air force expressed condolences to González’s family and colleagues, describing the incident as “unfortunate.”

Preparing for the Aeronautical Fair

The pilots were likely training for the upcoming Aeronautical Fair, which will take place from July 12th to 16th. The FAC had planned to send a squadron of six aircraft, five pilots, a security officer, and five technicians to the event. The Brazilian-built Tucano aircraft have been part of the FAC’s fixed-wing military pilot training program for many years and have logged tens of thousands of safe flight hours.

The squadron was set to perform aerobatic shows ranging from 30 to 35 minutes at the Aeronautical Fair. The FAC had previously announced that the Tucano planes would perform highly complex maneuvers, including inverted flights, 360-degree turns, high-speed crossings, and rapid turns in promotion.

Final Words

The tragic incident has shocked the Colombian Air Force and the aviation community. The cause of the accident remains unknown, and the investigation is ongoing. The loss of the two pilots is a reminder of the risks that military pilots face every day in their service to their country. Our thoughts and condolences go out to their families and colleagues during this difficult time.

Also, you might be interested in reading: Plane Crashes in Virginia After Pilot Passes Out

A private jet crashed in a mountainous region in Virginia on June 4th, 2023 after flying over a restricted airspace in Washington D.C. There were no survivors among four people onboard the aircraft.

Details 

The plane, a Cessna 560 Citation V, belonged to a company owned by multi-millionaire John Rumpel and was registered N611VG. Rumpel stated that the passengers onboard were his family members, including his daughter and 2-year-old granddaughter.

The aircraft took off at 1:15pm local time from Elizabethton, Tennessee and was en route to Long Island MacArthur Airport in New York when the air traffic controllers lost contact with the pilot. The pilot was unresponsive to calls from air traffic control 15 minutes after departure. 

Presumably on autopilot, the private jet flew over its destination at 34,000ft and turned around and started heading back to its origin in a straight line. 

During its autopilot cruise back to Elizabethton, the aircraft entered restricted airspace over Washington D.C., which prompted government officials to scramble six F-16 fighters to intercept the aircraft. The F-16 fighters caused sonic booms on the way to intercept the private jet, which alerted many residents over the Washington D.C. area.

Upon reaching the ill-fated private jet, pilots from the F-16 fighter jets observed that the pilot of the private plane was passed out at the controls. The F-16s tried to alert the pilot by firing flares, but all attempts were futile. 

The private jet continued cruising towards its origin until it ran out of fuel and crashed into a rural, mountainous region in Virginia. 

Cause of the Crash

The FAA and NTSB are currently investigating the incident and have not provided an explanation for the crash; however, it is likely that the plane experienced a loss of cabin pressure shortly after takeoff, as evident by the unconscious state of the pilot. The people onboard would have experienced hypoxia from a lack of oxygen and would have been unaware of the entire event.

Sources:

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2023_Virginia_plane_crash

https://www.cnn.com/2023/06/05/us/virginia-plane-crash-fighter-jets-investigation-monday/index.html

https://www.cbsnews.com/news/plane-crash-virginia-4-died-military-jet-sonic-boom-faa/

Cover Image: NBC News Washington

On a fateful day at Tokyo’s Haneda Airport, a serious incident occurred involving two Airbus A330 passenger jets. The Japanese transport ministry reported that the Thai Airways Airbus A330-300 (registration HS-TEO) and Eva Air Airbus A330-300 (registration B-16340) collided near a taxiway. The mishap took place as Thai flight #TG683, en route to Bangkok, taxied alongside Eva Air flight #BR189, bound for Taipei. Unfortunately, the incident occurred just before the planes were to line up on runway 16R at Tokyo-Haneda Airport.

The Thai Airways plane sustained noticeable damage, with its winglet appearing to be broken. Fragments from the collision were scattered near the runway, raising concerns about the severity of the impact. In response, authorities from the Tokyo airport office promptly dispatched officials to the scene to investigate the incident thoroughly.

To ensure the safety of all personnel involved and prevent further mishaps, the runway close to the accident site was temporarily closed. Such precautions are crucial in order to assess the situation accurately and prevent any potential hazards that may arise from the damaged aircraft.

As a result of this collision, flight operations at the airport were disrupted, causing delays for several domestic and international flights. Japan Airlines and All Nippon Airways, two prominent airlines operating at Tokyo Haneda Airport, were among those affected by the incident.

Safety remains the top priority, and investigations into the causes and circumstances surrounding the collision are expected to shed light on any lapses or oversights that may have contributed to this unfortunate event.