2 die when gliders collide in Hungary

Two gliders, both coming in for a landing in Esztergom, northern Hungary, collided in the air about 100-150 meters from the airport on Sunday, at an altitude of 50-100 meters, and one of them crashed, killing both passengers, local wire service MTI reported.

Tamas Antalics, an official of Aero Club Esztergom told MTI that one of the fatalities was an experienced teacher while the other was his student.

The second craft was able to land safely, said Antalics, adding that the craft had been piloted solo by a student who was unhurt.

The accident is being investigated by the Transportation Safety Organization.

Its communications chief, Erika Bajko, said that both planes were Gobe type gliders, a Hungarian design, and both had taken off from Esztergom Airport, and were preparing to land.

One craft had been approaching the tarmac in a straight line and the other had been coming in at an angle and was preparing to turn when the collision occurred, she said.

The crash ripped the tail off one glider, which literally fell out of the sky killing both occupants, Bajko reported.

The other plane was seriously damaged too, she said, but the pilot still managed to land it safely.

A full investigation of the crash is likely to take months, Bajko added.