Pilot killed in airship crash
Published: 13 Jun, 2011 CET.
Updated: Mon 13 Jun 2011 11:00 CET
The pilot of an airship was killed and three passengers had to leap to safety when the aircraft caught fire and crashed in central Germany Sunday evening, a police spokesman said.
The accident happened at the Reichelsheim aerodrome, near Friedberg in central Germany as the aircraft was coming in to land.
Two metres from the ground the pilot told his three passengers, all journalists, to jump to the ground while he tried to land safely, said a report on the Bild newspaper website, one of whose photographers had been on board.
Once the three journalists left the dirigible, it climbed back up to 40 metres but then caught fire for reasons not yet clear, said police.
Witnesses reported hearing a loud noise from the engine and smelling petrol fumes. Apart from the Bild photographer, the journalists included two from RTL television.
The airship had been making a promotional flight to mark a local festival.
AFP/bk
Comments
See Also
The accident happened at the Reichelsheim aerodrome, near Friedberg in central Germany as the aircraft was coming in to land.
Two metres from the ground the pilot told his three passengers, all journalists, to jump to the ground while he tried to land safely, said a report on the Bild newspaper website, one of whose photographers had been on board.
Once the three journalists left the dirigible, it climbed back up to 40 metres but then caught fire for reasons not yet clear, said police.
Witnesses reported hearing a loud noise from the engine and smelling petrol fumes. Apart from the Bild photographer, the journalists included two from RTL television.
The airship had been making a promotional flight to mark a local festival.
AFP/bk
Join the conversation in our comments section below. Share your own views and experience and if you have a question or suggestion for our journalists then email us at [email protected].
Please keep comments civil, constructive and on topic – and make sure to read our terms of use before getting involved.
Please log in here to leave a comment.