Mid-Air Collision of 2 Planes Kills 1 and Injures 3 at Colorado at Airport
NEED TO KNOW
- One person died and three others were injured in an Aug. 31 mid-air collision between two small planes at Colorado’s Fort Morgan Municipal Airport.
- A small Cessna was making its final approach to the airport when it was hit by another small aircraft
- Authorities said that the incident is being investigated
A mid-air collision of two small planes at a Colorado airport left one person dead and three others injured over the weekend, authorities said.
The incident happened on the morning of Aug, 31 at the Fort Morgan Municipal Airport, according to a statement from the Morgan County Sheriff’s Office.
Authorities said a small Cessna was making its final approach to the airport when it was struck by another small plane mid-air.
“Both aircraft crashed and caught fire,” the sheriff’s office said.
There were two occupants aboard each of the planes, officials said, adding that the two people in the Cessna suffered minor injuries and were released at the scene.
One person from the other plane was pronounced dead at the scene and the other was taken to a hospital.
The cause of the collision and the names of those involved in the incident have not been released. The sheriff’s office said no additional information would be released due to the “ongoing nature” of the investigation.
“The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) have been contacted and will assist with the investigation,” the sheriff’s office said. “We extend our deepest condolences to the family and friends of the victim in this tragic event.”
In an X post, the NTSB said the collision involved a Cessna 172 and an Extra EA 300.
An FAA weather camera recorded a plume of smoke north of Fort Morgan Municipal Airport, according to ABC affiliate KMGH, which added that the incident forced the closure of the airport on Sunday.
Video of the aftermath showed only debris from the collision and the ground blackened as though from a large explosion or fire.
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“We would like to express our gratitude to all the agencies that helped with this situation,” the sheriff’s office said in its statement. “Additionally, we want to thank the citizens who assisted in trying to extinguish the fire until the fire department and first responders arrived on the scene.”
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