Two Airplanes Crash at Air Show in S. Africa

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Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Monday, September 23, 2002

Two Airplanes Crash at Air Show in S. Africa

Two airplanes crashed at an air show close to Pretoria on Sunday and one pilot was injured, two others escaped from the disaster.

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Two airplanes crashed at an air show close to Pretoria on Sunday and one pilot was injured, two others escaped from the disaster.

Air Force spokeswoman Martie Visser said that the first Harvardairplane crashed at 11:40 a.m. (0940 GMT) and the second crashed five hours later at the end of the air show about 5:00 p.m. (1500 GMT).

The spokesman said that the second plane apparently developed engine trouble shortly after take-off and the pilot and co-pilot ejected safely from the plane.

The first Harvard airplane crashed into a hillside about 10 km southeast of the air show when its engine apparently stalled.

The aircraft hit a power line and a tree before ploughing into the ground.

The pilot, identified by organizers as Colonel Jeff Earle, a South African Air Force Reserve officer, was treated by paramedicsbefore being rushed to No.1 Military Hospital in a stable condition.

The incident occurred while the Harvard, T6G 7728, was formatting with three other Harvards in a holding area above Rietvlei prior to a Heritage Flight performance.

The Harvard served as a basic training platform for generationsof SAAF pilots before being retired in the early 1990s.

The show organizers had also announced that the condition of the two parachutists who were injured in a parachute drop exerciseon Saturday had improved.

Private T.H. Mdleleni was released from No.1 Military Hospital on Sunday morning and Private S. D. Magidela who suffered spinal injuries has been moved out of the Intensive Care Unit.

Both parachutists were from 44 Parachute Brigade from Tempe, Bloemfontein. An investigation team will be appointed by the SouthAfrican National Defense Force to determine the cause of the incidents.

Starting from Sept. 18 to 22, the Africa Aerospace and Defense 2002 was the largest of its kind on the African continent, with participation of 25 countries, including the United States, France,Russia and Italy.

The air show attracted about 200,000 visitors to the WaterkloofAir Force Base.

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