Plane crash near Gera: Two people die in a collision between aerobatic pilots

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Firefighters at the scene of the accident near Gera

Photo: Björn Walther / dpa

Two people were killed in a collision between two planes on Saturday evening on the outskirts of Gera.

According to a spokesman for the fire brigade, the casualties are two aerobatic pilots who collided in the air with their respective machines near the Leumnitz airfield on Saturday evening.

"According to current knowledge, two aircraft crashed," the police confirmed.

The planes crashed after the collision over an open area, the fire department said.

There were no other deaths or injuries.

According to their own statements, the police and fire brigade were in action with a large contingent.

Details of how the accident happened and the identity of the pilots were not initially known.

"The exact circumstances of the accident are the subject of the immediately initiated criminal investigations," said a police statement.

According to the website, aircraft with a maximum take-off weight of 5.7 tons are allowed to take off and land at the Gera-Leumnitz airfield.

It is an airfield for both commercial and sport aviation.

ktz/dpa