Aircrafts collision at Beja Air Show claims life of Spanish pilot, cancels event
(MENAFN) During the Beja Air Show on Sunday afternoon, tragedy struck as two aircraft collided, resulting in one fatality and another individual sustaining injuries, as confirmed by the Portuguese Air Force.
The unfortunate incident claimed the life of a Spanish national who was a member of the Yakstars aerobatic display team, marking a somber moment for both Portuguese and Spanish aviation history.
Yakstars, comprised of Portuguese and Spanish pilots, holds the distinction of being the first aerobatic display team in the history of Iberian military and civilian aviation. The loss of one of its members casts a shadow over the tight-knit aviation community.
Following the collision, the Beja Air Show was promptly canceled, bringing an abrupt end to the highly anticipated event.
Images captured by local media depict the harrowing moment of the collision, with one aircraft plummeting vertically and erupting into flames upon impact, while the other crashes horizontally into the ground.
In response to the tragic incident, the Office for the Prevention and Investigation of Aircraft and Railway Accidents (GPIAAF) swiftly dispatched a team to Air Base No. 11 in Beja. As investigations unfold, authorities are working diligently to piece together the events leading up to the collision, particularly given the controlled airspace overseen by the Armed Forces during the festival.
The aviation community mourns the loss of life and extends its deepest condolences to the family, friends, and colleagues of the fallen pilot, while also wishing a swift recovery to the injured individual.
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