Two small planes collide at US’s Colorado airport

Two small aircraft collided mid-air at Fort Morgan Municipal Airport in Colorado on the morning of August 31, with fears that up to four people may have died, local authorities reported.

The collision occurred just before 11 a.m. local time, according to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and local media. Witnesses reported seeing thick black smoke rising from the crash site, Caliber.Az writes per NBC. 

The planes involved were identified as a Cessna 172 and an Extra Flugzeugbau EA300. Authorities indicated that both aircraft were attempting to land at the airport at the same time when the accident occurred.

Video footage from the airport’s FAA tower webcam showed smoke billowing into the sky, underscoring the severity of the incident. One of the planes reportedly caught fire upon impact, while the other was severely damaged.

Morgan County Sheriff David Martin confirmed that police and emergency personnel were on the scene, inspecting the wreckage, and said the county coroner’s office is assisting with the investigation.

Fort Morgan Municipal Airport has been temporarily closed following the crash, though officials have yet to release an official tally of casualties or injuries.

Authorities continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding the collision.

By Sabina Mammadli