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Watch the dramatic moment two acrobatic planes collide mid-air before the pilots parachute to safety

One of the planes exploded into flames in the air as it nose-dived out of sight

Loulla-Mae Eleftheriou-Smith
Sunday 15 March 2015 18:05 GMT
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Two parachutes float in the air with smoke billowing after two Indonesian aerobatic plane crash in mid-air of Langkawi, Malaysia
Two parachutes float in the air with smoke billowing after two Indonesian aerobatic plane crash in mid-air of Langkawi, Malaysia (EPA)

Two planes from an Indonesian acrobatic air team collided mid-air and crashed in Malaysia on Sunday during a practice session for a show, causing all four pilots to parachute to safety.

A Malaysian defence official said the pilots from both planes ejected from their aircraft after losing control of the jets and landed safely with their parachutes.

Footage from the event, held on Kangawi Island, shows the two planes clipping wings before one of the aircraft bursts into flames and nose-dives out of view, with its pilots floating in the air.

A house and car caught fire due to falling debris from the plane, but there were no reports of deaths or serious injuries on the ground, according to a statement from the air show’s organisers.

The four pilots are currently under observation at a hospital in Langkawi.

Malaysian Defense Minister Hishammuddin Hussein visited them at the hospital and tweeted: “Thankful that all 4 pilots are safe, their spirits remained high.”

The Indonesian team is one of five scheduled to perform at the Langkawi International Maritime and Aerospace Exhibition, set for March 17-21.

Additional reporting by PA

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