BARCELONA, Spain – In a tragic turn of events, two ultralight aircraft collided mid-air near a small aerodrome in northeastern Spain on Sunday, April 30, 2023, resulting in the death of all four passengers on board, according to local authorities.
Firefighters, responding to a witness report, discovered one plane engulfed in flames in a nearby wooded area north of Barcelona, near the Moia aerodrome. The witness saw the aircraft lose altitude abruptly before crashing, as informed by the regional government of Catalonia.
“Once the fire was extinguished, firefighters found two lifeless bodies inside the ultralight (plane),” the authorities detailed in an official statement, painting a grim picture of the catastrophic incident.
In a concerning twist of fate, several hours after dousing the flames of the first wreckage, firefighters located a second damaged ultralight aircraft approximately 300 meters (984 feet) from the initial crash site. Two more deceased individuals were found inside this aircraft, further escalating the tragedy.
Preliminary investigation suggests a mid-air collision as the likely cause of the two crashes, although the authorities were careful not to prematurely conclude the cause of the accident. Both the police and civil aviation authorities are now conducting a thorough investigation to determine the exact circumstances that led to this heartrending incident.
“This is a tragic day for the aviation community,” a representative from the civil aviation authorities said. “Our focus now is to conduct a comprehensive investigation to understand the cause of this accident and to ensure such incidents are prevented in the future.”
This tragic incident has cast a pall over the usually tranquil aerodrome and sent shockwaves through the local aviation community. Further updates will be provided as the investigation unfolds.
