Ukrainian Plane Kills 60 Spectators
Sat Jul 27, 9:40 AM ET
By MARINA SYSOEVA, Associated Press Writer
KIEV, Ukraine (AP) - A fighter jet crashed into a huge crowd of spectators at an air show Saturday, killing at least 60 people and injuring 70 others in the western Ukrainian city of Lviv, emergency officials said.
The Su-27's two crewmen ejected and survived, but the jet crashed into the crowd watching the show at the Skniliv Airport, the Emergency Situations Ministry said.
Thousands of people were at the air field watching the show under clear skies. The plane was in the sky for about two minutes, but it appeared to go silent and started heading toward the ground — clipping trees and touching another plane on the ground before it crashed.
"I could only grab the children and hold on. We were thrown away and hands and legs were flying all around us," said one spectator, Zinovy, who did not give his last name. Both he and his child were injured.
A huge ball of fire engulfed the airfield as the plane hit the ground and a giant plume of smoke soared into the sky. Russia's NTV television showed pictures of people with bleeding head wounds, apparently having been hit by parts of the plane. People were screaming in panic.
The plane was conducting complicated aerial maneuvers at the show, marking the 60th anniversary of a local air force unit.
