Two Tornados down in Germany!?

[Mr. Bones]

i read two Tornados from the Luftwaffe were involved in a mid air collision above Germany. two pilots ejected, two others were injured but also survived the crash...i think.

can anyone tell me more? this is all i know.  ;)

[Hagar]

Bad news Bones. Nothing reported on BBC yet so I had a punt round.

http://www.abc.net.au/news/newsitems/s1092211.htm

Last Update: Wednesday, April 21, 2004. 10:08pm (AEST)

Air accident kills two in Germany

Two German air force jets have collided in mid-air above the northern German town of Garding, killing two of the four people on board.

The remaining two passengers were able to eject and parachute to safety.

It is not clear what caused the collision.

Rolling news channel NTV reports wreckage fell on undeveloped land near the St Peter-Ording beach resort on the North Sea.

There are no reports of injuries on the ground.

An air force spokesman says the two planes were Tornado jets belonging to the reconnaissance squadron '51 Immelmann', based in the northern town of Jagel.

-- AFP

[Saitek]

Oh no! I wonder what caused that?
I'm amazed anyone survived a mid-air collision.
You'd think with all the technology today at least one of the pilots would have managed tp spot the other.
Regards
Ben

[ozzy72]

This is terrible news
Dr. Shoe will probably have the most up to date info as he lives in Germany. I wonder if it was Swiss ATC?

Ozzy

[Scottler]

Is that the one with all the holes in it?

[tsunami_KNUW]

Poor pilots...people keep talking about Swiss ATC. Is there something wrong with it? Sorry for a silly question  ::)

[ATI_7500]

The crash was over the north sea,but I haven't heard about it until today.
Goddamned german news industry. Michael Jackson is more important than a crash between two aircraft.

[ozzy72]

Don't worry Bj

[Fly2e]

[quote]Ozzy
I wonder if it was Swiss ATC?


Hyperion
Is that the one with all the holes in it?

[ATI_7500]

Most probably human failure...I don't think that any technical device can cause a mid-air-to-air collision of two aircraft during good weather.

[Scottler]

Most probably human failure...I don't think that any technical device can cause a mid-air-to-air collision of two aircraft during good weather.

Sure it can.  It's not likely, but say for example the autopilots failed, and both aircraft were on a course that would intersect.  Bam.  

Another example is if aircraft #1 were above #2.  Aircraft #1 has a mechanical failure and it starts losing altitude.  Same result.

Neither is likely, but mechanical failure isn't impossible.

[Craig.]

this sounds alot like the mid air collision at fairford with the migs a while back, thats the only way i could see anyone ejecting with two pilots being lost
Sad incident indeed and hopefully an answer will be given soon

[ATI_7500]

I've read that the collision was during a turn (don't know whether a narrow or wide one). IMHO,Tornado #1 lost sight of Tornado #2,which was below it, T2 pulls up and *bang*...

Most probably human failure...

[Saitek]

Why could only 2 out of the 4 pilots eject? I haven't seen anything anywhere, so I don't know how serious it was.

Ben

[Stormtropper]

Man, I thought that midair collisions were a thing of the past. :( :( :( :( :( :( :( :(:( :( :( :( :( :( :( :( :( :( :( :( :(:( :( :( :(

Don't worry for all you people who live in Europe, here in the USA all the news talks about is Janet Jackson's breast.