‘Amazing’ escape for pilots, passenger after plane nearly ripped in half in mid-air crash
- Two aircraft collided near Denver, but managed to land safely despite the damage
- One pilot used a parachute to slow his plane’s descent, while the other requested an emergency landing without knowing how badly his aircraft was damaged
The pilot of an aeroplane that collided with another mid-air near Denver requested emergency landing for engine failure, not knowing that his plane was nearly ripped in half, according to air traffic control audio. Miraculously, both planes landed and no one was hurt, officials said.
The planes were getting ready to land at a small regional airport in a Denver suburb on Wednesday when they collided, according to the US National Transportation Safety Board and South Metro Fire Rescue.
The pilot that requested emergency landing was the only person aboard a twin-engined Fairchild Metroliner that landed at Centennial Airport despite major damage to its tail section. The plane is owned by a Colorado-based Key Lime Air, which operates cargo aircraft.
“Looks like the right engine failed so I’m gonna continue my landing here,” the pilot said in an audio clip with air traffic control.
The second plane, a single-engine 2016 Cirrus SR22, was rented by Independence Aviation, the company said in a statement. Its pilot successfully deployed an airframe parachute system designed by Cirrus Aircraft to slow the craft’s descent after a collision.