A devastating mid-air collision between two small planes performing an aerobatic stunt at the Beja AirShow in southern Portugal has resulted in the death of a Spanish pilot and injured another.
The tragic incident occurred on Sunday afternoon when the two planes, part of the YAK STARS aerobatic patrol, collided at around 2:45 pm local time. One of the planes, a Yakovlev Yak-52, exploded into flames, killing the pilot instantly.
The other plane, a Yakovlev Yak-50, crash-landed in a nearby area, injuring the pilot.
Emergency services rushed to the scene, and the Portuguese Air Force (PAF) confirmed the death of the Spanish pilot and the injury of another pilot.
The injured pilot was transported to a nearby hospital for treatment.
The Portuguese Air Force, which organized the show, immediately cancelled the Beja AirShow, Portugal’s largest air festival, following the accident.
The causes of the collision are yet to be determined, and an investigation has been launched by the Portuguese authorities.
The incident has sent shockwaves through the aviation community, and condolences have poured in for the family of the deceased pilot.
The YAK STARS team, comprising Portuguese and Spanish pilots, is considered the largest civilian aerobatic team in southern Europe.
The incident has raised concerns about air safety and the measures in place to prevent such tragedies.
The Beja AirShow tragedy has left the aviation community in mourning, and a thorough investigation is necessary to determine the causes of the collision and prevent such incidents in the future.