What happened
The incident involved a three-engine aircraft operating under the command of the Spanish Air Force. The plane was conducting a bombing mission while cruising over the Catalonia region during the conflict. During this phase of flight, the aircraft collided with another Savoia-Marchetti SM.79. This second aircraft had previously sustained damage from anti-aircraft fire, which likely compromised its stability or control surfaces.
Following the impact, the subject aircraft lost aerodynamic control and entered an uncontrolled descent. The plane struck the ground in a massive explosion, destroying the airframe completely. There were no survivors among the 17 occupants on board the aircraft at the time of the crash.