A helicopter and an ultralight plane have collided mid-air in Mallorca, killing at least seven people. The crash took place near Inca, in the north of the popular tourist island off the coast of mainland Spain. Two of the victims were under 18, the regional government said. Five of the victims, including the two minors, were on board the helicopter, while the two others were travelling in the ultralight, a type of small aircraft with a maximum of two seats. Regional President Francina Armengol said emergency teams were working at the scene and one of the regional government's ministers had been dispatched. Local newspaper Diario De Mallorca said the collision happened in the air over the Inca Hospital at about 13:36 local time (12:36 GMT). Photos made available from the local fire service showed wreckage from the aircraft in the town. The tail section of one landed on a road, while another photo showed twisted and blackened metal on fire in a garden. Spanish media outlet La Sexta said the wreckage had landed in a nearby farm. Spain's Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez expressed "solidarity and sympathies" with the victims.

Source: BBC News

One of Russian budget carrier Pobeda's Boeing 737-800s has suffered damage during a tail-strike following a service to Gyumri in Armenia. Armenia's Civil Aviation Committee states that the incident occurred at 21:04 on 19 August as the jet arrived from Moscow Vnukovo. The aircraft "hit the runway" at Shirak airport causing "tail damage", says the committee. None of the 173 passengers were injured, it adds. Russian federal air transport regulator Rosaviatsia states that the aircraft, which also had six crew members, was operating flight DP855 and conducting a go-around at Gyumri when the suspected tail-strike occurred. Inspection of the aircraft after landing revealed tail-bumper damage, paintwork abrasion on the fuselage underside in the region of an aft drain nozzle. The aircraft (VQ-BTJ) was subsequently withdrawn from operations for further damage assessment.

Source: FlightGlobal

Ural Airlines has disclosed that the Airbus A321 which came down in a cornfield after a take-off incident at Moscow Zhukovsky will be cut up for scrap. The airline stresses that it does not plan to reuse "any part" of the twinjet which lost power, apparently after a bird-strike, and carried out a gear-up touchdown in the field. Ural Airlines says the jet has been "fully prepared" for removal, including dismantling of the engines. Fuel has been removed and other pressurised systems, including the hydraulics and oxygen units, have been discharged or taken out. In co-ordination with traffic police from the region the aircraft will be cut up and taken away from the scene for disposal from 23 August.

Source: FlightGlobal