What happened
During a coordinated military training mission, a Canso aircraft was flying at an altitude of 5,000 feet when it collided with a Colombian Air Force Republic F-47D Thunderbolt, registration 856. The fighter jet had departed from the Germán Olano Moreno Airbase in Puerto Salgar as part of a group of similar aircraft participating in a joint exercise.
Following the impact, the Canso lost control and descended rapidly into a field situated near Guarinocito. The crash resulted in four fatalities among the occupants of the Canso. While the collision was catastrophic for the larger aircraft, the pilot of the F-47D Thunderbolt successfully ejected from the fighter and was rescued by ground teams.
Findings
- The incident occurred during a mid-air collision between two aircraft operating in the same airspace for training purposes.