Four people dead after mid-air plane crash

[Greg Hyde]

Four people dead after mid-air plane crash at Mangalore, north of Melbourne

Four people are dead after two twin-engine planes collided mid-air at Mangalore, about 120 kilometres north of Melbourne.

One of the planes was carrying a trainee pilot and instructor who had taken off from Mangalore airfield shortly before the collision, which happened about 11:25am.

The other aircraft had taken off from a different airport, Victoria Police Inspector Peter Koger said.

"We're not sure why both aircraft were on the same trajectory or why they were in that area, but unfortunately they've collided mid-air," Inspector Koger said.

"There was some talk of possible cloud cover and there's a possibility that they didn't see each other."

Inspector Koger said one of the planes crashed immediately after the collision, while the other continued for some distance before crashing.

He said both had been "extensively damaged" before they hit the ground.

Witnesses on the ground and in a helicopter saw the mid-air collision and the first plane crash, Inspector Kroger said.

"It's a big tragedy for both families … it's very upsetting for everyone including emergency services that had to see this scene today," he said.

"It's a tragedy for sure."

https://www.abc.net.au/news/2020-02-...alore/11980244