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Two killed after planes collide in Sydney

(Agencies)
Updated: 2008-12-18 10:29

SYDNEY – Two people were killed when an aircraft slammed into a house in Sydney and burst into flames after a mid-air collision, officials said Thursday.

File photo shows the Sydney skyline with the landmark Sydney Bridge. Two people have been killed after two aircraft collided over Sydney and one of the planes slammed into a house. [Agencies]

Those killed were reportedly on board the light plane while people in the house "were safely evacuated and are being assessed by paramedics at the scene," said Ambulance Service spokeswoman Fiona Cook.

"Two planes have collided. One has landed safely and the other is believed to have crashed into a house," said Fire Brigade Superintendent Craig Brierley.

"The plane (that hit the house) is on fire."

A witness said the plane destroyed the rear of the house in the suburb of Casula in Sydney's southwest.

"I was going along the M5 and I've just seen this thing coming down," a man told Fairfax Radio.

"The tail was hanging off the back and it's crashed into the back of a house up near Box Road and it's absolutely demolished the back of their house," he said.

The second plane, which was also believed to be carrying two people, made an emergency landing at nearby Bankstown Airport.

An airport spokeswoman said the airport was closed for a short time after the second plane landed safely.

She could not confirm how many people were in the plane or whether any were injured, but said emergency authorities were looking after the male pilot.

"All I can say is he was attended to by ambulance officers and interviewed by police and that's a routine procedure after something like this," she said.

"The airport was closed for a short time to invoke our emergency response plans and the airport is operational at this time."