Two pilots were killed when two ultralight aircraft collided near the Krems-Gneixendorf airfield in Lower Austria on Monday morning, in an accident that sent wreckage into nearby vineyards and triggered a large emergency response. One aircraft had just towed a glider before turning back and colliding with the other ultralight about 1 to 1.5 kilometres from the airfield. The glider landed safely and was not involved in the crash.
The pilots were reported to be 36 and 70 years old. Both aircraft caught fire after hitting the ground, with firefighters dealing with burning wreckage spread across open land and vineyard rows. Police and aviation authorities opened an investigation into the cause, which remained unclear in the initial reporting.
The site was cordoned off as crews secured the area and assessed debris. No aircraft registrations, pilot identities or final findings had been released in the coverage reviewed.