In a heart-stopping incident that has sent shockwaves through the aviation community, two small planes collided mid-air over Chicago, with horrified passengers on a nearby flight capturing the entire terrifying event on camera.
The dramatic collision occurred at approximately 3:15 pm local time on Saturday, involving a twin-engine Cessna 340 and a single-engine Cessna 172. The smaller Cessna 172 was seen breaking apart upon impact, plummeting from the sky and crashing into a vacant lot in a residential area of the city.
Eyewitnesses Describe the Terror
Passengers aboard another aircraft, flying at a similar altitude, witnessed the catastrophic event unfold just moments away from their own plane. One quick-thinking passenger managed to film the harrowing scene, providing crucial evidence for investigators.
"We saw two planes that were way too close to each other," recounted one eyewitness from the ground. "There was a loud bang, and then we saw one of the planes just start tumbling down from the sky. It's something you never expect to see."
Emergency Response and Investigation
Emergency services rushed to the scene of the crash on West 74th Street. Tragically, both occupants of the Cessna 172 were pronounced dead at the scene. Miraculously, the pilot of the second aircraft, the Cessna 340, managed to execute an emergency landing at nearby Schaumburg Regional Airport, sustaining only minor injuries.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) have launched a full-scale investigation into the cause of the collision. The released passenger video is expected to be a key component in determining the sequence of events that led to the disaster.
This incident serves as a stark reminder of the critical importance of air traffic control communication and visual awareness for pilots operating in busy airspace.
