MOSCOW, January 8. /TASS/. Russia’s Emergencies Ministry has confirmed the fall on take-off of a light jet in the Leningrad Region, with casualties reported, a source in the ministry’s press service told TASS on Friday.
"At 3:05 pm on January 8, 2021, it was reported that light aircraft fell on take-off at Gostilitsy Airfield. Casualties were reported," the press service said.
A source in emergency services told TASS earlier that three people onboard were dead after a private light jet crashed. The aircraft was completely destroyed.
The aircraft collided before the accident with another jet in the air, a source in the northwestern transport prosecutor's office told TASS.
"According to preliminary data, the pilot of the Cessna jet without passengers took off from the landing ground on January 8, 2021, at 1:38 pm Moscow time, the Piper light aircraft with a pilot and two passengers on board took off next at 1:39 pm Moscow time. The collision occurred in the air above the landing ground at 1:40 pm Moscow time. The Cessna light air craft landed with minor deterioration, the pilot was unharmed," the source said.
The prosecutor’s office also confirmed the information that three people onboard of the Piper aircraft died.
