Slovakia plane crash: Two planes collide mid-air, seven dead
Seven people have died after two planes collided in a mid-air crash in Slovakia.
The four pilots and three passengers were killed on Thursday as they took part in rehearsals for an air show in Slavnica that had been planned for this weekend.
See also: Video: Plane struck by lightning on runway
The crash occurred in a hilly area near the village of Cerveny Kamen, not far from the border with the Czech Republic.
According to the BBC, Interior Minister Robert Kalinak, said: "Soon after takeoff, after the first manoeuvre, the two planes collided due to causes that are not yet known."
The two L-410 turbo-prop aircraft were carrying a total of 38 passengers when the crash happened, and 31 parachutists managed to jump 4,921ft to safety, with five suffering minor injuries.
Air Live said of the incident: "Two planes carrying dozens of parachutists collided in midair on Thursday over western Slovakia, killing seven people, officials said. Thirty-one others on board survived by jumping out with their parachutes.
"The crash took place Thursday morning at 0720 GMT (2:20 a.m. EDT) near the village of Cerveny Kamen. Rescue workers used helicopters to reach the forested crash site in the White Carpathians mountain range that forms the border with the Czech Republic.
"The two Czech-made L-410 transport planes collided at an altitude of 1,500 meters (4,921 feet), said Juraj Denes, an official with the Slovak Air and Naval Investigations Bureau, a government agency that investigates plane crashes."
According to the Independent, one witness said: "I heard the crash and ran [to the site of the accident]. I saw one of the aircraft falling to the ground and people jumping from it."
Mr Kalinak said it was a "small miracle" that more people were not killed.
The air show has now been cancelled.
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