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Wings Over Dallas crash: Horrifying footage shows Bell Kingcobra colliding with B-17 killing 6

Six crew members are feared to be dead after two planes collided in mid-air at the Wings Over Dallas airshow

DALLAS, TEXAS: Two historic planes, World War II-era B-17 Flying Fortress and  Bell King Cobra P-63 collided mid-air on Saturday, November 12, at 1.20 pm in Dallas, Texas. The mid-air collision happened during a Dallas airshow. A video that has surfaced online, indicates that B-17 approached the P-63 and slammed the plane, causing a major accident with a huge fire. 

The front of B-17 almost detached from its rears as its wings caught on fire, reported Daily Mail. The outlet also indicated the possible death of six people who were on board. According to KTLA, in 2019 a propeller-driven B-17 Flying Fortress bomber with 13 people aboard had crashed at Bradley International Airport, north of Hartford, during an aircraft show. Meanwhile, P-63 is the only USA fighter to begin production and go into combat after the start of World War II, reported Aviation History Online Museum.

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Coming to the crash that took place on Saturday, 40 rescue teams rushed to the spot, reported CNN. Hank Coates, president and CEO of the Commemorative Air Force, told reporters, "The B-17 normally has a crew of four to five. That was what was on the aircraft, while the P-63 is a single-piloted fighter-type aircraft. I can tell you that it was normally crewed. I cannot release the number of people in the manifest or the names on the manifest until I’m released to do so by the NTSB.”

Mayor Eric Johnson said, "As many of you have now seen, we have had a terrible tragedy in our city today during an airshow. Many details remain unknown or unconfirmed at this time. The @NTSB has taken command of the crash scene with @DallasPD and @DallasFireRes_q continuing to provide support." He added, " The videos are heartbreaking. Please, say a prayer for the souls who took to the sky to entertain and educate our families today."

One of the witnesses of the crash, Montoya, told Daily Mail, "I just stood there. I was in complete shock and disbelief, I attended the air show with a friend. Everybody around was gasping. Everybody was bursting into tears. Everybody was in shock." The Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board investigate the crash. 

What is the B-17 Flying Fortress?

According to Boeing.com, the B-17 which is nicknamed 'Texas Raiders' is a low-wing monoplane that combines the aerodynamic features of the XB-15 giant bomber. It is the first Boeing military aircraft with a flight deck instead of an open cockpit and was armed with bombs and 30-caliber machine guns. The 'Flying Fortress' is a name that quickly popularized. The US Army Air Corps designated the plane as the B-17. The first B-17 saw its combat in 1941. Meanwhile, as World War II intensified, the bombers needed additional armament and armor and used B-17 for such purposes. The plane can hold two pilots, a bombardier, a navigator, a radio operator, and five gunners. The plane has a total length of 74 feet 9 inches and the gross weight is 65,000 pounds.