A
weekend midair collision over northern Wisconsin sent one small plane
careening into the ground while another limped safely back to the
runway, USA.
Fortunately,
both planes were carrying skydivers - meaning that for the 11 people
aboard the two aircraft, the collision resulted in nothing more than
minor injuries to two of them, firefighters reported.
"It's definitely a reminder of the danger of the sport that we all love," Skydive Superior instructor Mike Robinson told CNN affiliate KQDS.
The crash happened Saturday evening over Superior, Wisconsin, near the Minnesota state line.
It
happened as the two planes were flying close by as the skydivers
prepared to jump in formation, Superior Fire Department Battalion Chief
Vern Johnson said.
Robinson
said the lead plane, which crashed, had four skydivers aboard along
with its pilot; the trailing plane had five parachutists.
Johnson
said the pilot of the lead plane told firefighters that before the
jump, he heard a loud bang and his windshield shattered.
The plane caught fire and broke up in midair, but the skydivers and the pilot all parachuted to safety.
"Everybody got out safely. The pilot got out safely, used his emergency parachute and landed," Robinson said.
"In the trail plane, all five jumpers got out of the airplane safely and landed safely."
The
pilot of the plane that crashed "was visibly bloodied about his face
and shirt and had one hand wrapped in a garment, but was otherwise
lucid, alert and oriented," Johnson said.
The
pilot of the trailing plane landed safely and picked up the pilot of
the crashed aircraft along the runway as he taxied in, Johnson said.
Another Superior Fire Department official, Battalion Chief Steve Edwards, said one other person also suffered minor injuries.
Skydive Superior posted a message on its Facebook page thanking supporters"during this very difficult time for us.
"The jumpers and pilots have been through a very surreal experience, and they are lucky and thankful to be alive," it said.
Source: CNN
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