Five Killed in Midair Plane Collision

Authorities said Sunday five people died after two small planes collided midair near San Diego’s Brown Field Municipal Airport. A twin-engine Sabreliner jet and a single-engine Cessna 172 crashed at around 11 a.m. while both heading inbound to Brown Field, according to Federal Aviation Administration spokesman Ian Gregor. The Sabreliner was reportedly carrying four people and was registered to military contractor BAE Systems. The company issued a statement confirming its employees were on board the plane. National Transportation Safety Board investigator Andrew Swick told KNSD-TV the Cessna’s pilot was on a cross-country trip. “It appears that it was a very violent crash as you can tell by both aircrafts that are in multiple pieces,” said Cal Fire Division Chief Nick Schuler.