Horror moment plane bursts into flames in mid-air as trainee pilots make narrow escape
Horror moment plane bursts into flames in mid-air as trainee pilots make narrow escape
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Horror footage shows the moment two trainee pilots had a very lucky escape after their plane burst into flames. The pair were taking to the skies in a Cessna 172 Skyhawk for a lesson and everything seemed fine during take off at the Minas Gerais airport, a hub for training aviators in Belo Horizonte, Brazil. But in footage taken on the runway on Saturday, the pair suddenly notice smoke coming from the back of the aircraft - with it soon becoming clear the plane was on fire.
The pilots managed to return the plane to the flight school and escape. But it was not possible to contain the flames and the fire completely destroyed the aircraft. Reports indicate that the fire broke out on the aircraft's instrument panel while it was in flight, according to NeedToKnow. In the clip the plane can be seen on the runway after the pilots had already got out.
Smoke drifts out from the windows and back of the aircraft as flames flicker onto the tarmac. The video then skips to moments later, showing the blazing aircraft destroyed with its middle section missing. It comes after a pilot and passenger had a miracle escape after a light aircraft crashed onto a busy road in the UK last summer.
The plane landed on the A419 in Gloucestershire - with emergency services scrambled to help. Great Western Air Ambulance was among the 999 crews called to reports of the downed powered glider at around 4.45pm on Tuesday afternoon. The incident happened close to Aston Down Airfield in Frampton Mansell between Cirencester and Stroud. A witness said that it "looked like it stalled and nose dived into the main road".
