Two sky diving planes carrying a total of 11 people collided in midair 12,000 feet over northern Wisconsin after one of the planes malfunctioned during a Saturday jump, CNN reported.
One plane crashed to the ground, while the other barely made it back on the runway, according to CNN. Since both planes were carrying skydivers with multiple jumps under their belt, the 11 jumpers safely skydived to the ground with only two jumpers having minor injuries.
The crash occurred while both planes were flying close by, preparing for the skydivers to jump in formation, Superior Fire Department Battalion Chief Vern Johnson told CNN.
The pilot of the plane that malfunctioned told Johnson he heard loud bangs before the jump and then his windshield shattered, CNN reported. The plane then caught fire and broke up in midair while the skydivers and pilot jumped to safety.
Skydive Superior instructor Mike Robinson told CNN affiliate KQDS the lead plane which crashed had four skydivers and one pilot on board, the other plane had five skydivers. "It's definitely a reminder of the danger of the sport that we all love," Robinson said.
"We were just a few seconds away from having a normal skydive when the trail plane came over the top of the lead aircraft and came down on top of it," the 62-year-old said, according to BBC News. "It turned into a big flash fireball, and the wing separated. All of us knew we had a crash. The wing over our head was gone, so we just left."
Johnson said the pilot of the plane which exploded in the air "was visibly bloodied about his face and shirt and had one hand wrapped in a garment, but was otherwise lucid, alert and oriented," according to CNN.
