Russian aircraft explodes into fireball leaving two dead

  • Soviet-era plane ploughed into the ground in front of stunned spectators
  • The horror crash happened during an airshow in Balashikha near Moscow
  • Source revealed pilot error being viewed as most likely cause of the crash

This is the dramatic moment a vintage Russian aircraft exploded into a fireball leaving two dead.

The Soviet-era plane ploughed into the ground in front of stunned spectators during an aerobatic routine at the airshow in the town of Balashikha near Moscow.

A police spokesman said: ‘We confirm the crash and that according to our preliminary information two people onboard were killed.’ 

The Soviet-era plane ploughed into the ground causing a major fireball explosion

The horror crash happened during an aerobatic routine at an airshow in the town of Balashikha near Moscow. The plane is pictured

The horror crash happened during an aerobatic routine at an airshow in the town of Balashikha near Moscow. The plane is pictured

The horror crash happened during an aerobatic routine at an airshow in the town of Balashikha near Moscow. The plane is pictured

A source in the emergency services told TASS news agency that pilot error was viewed as the most likely cause of the crash. The fireball explosion is pictured at the airshow

A source in the emergency services told TASS news agency that pilot error was viewed as the most likely cause of the crash. The fireball explosion is pictured at the airshow

Video taken by horrified onlookers showed the Antonov propeller plane bursting into flames after hitting the ground and then thick black smoke pouring into the air

Video taken by horrified onlookers showed the Antonov propeller plane bursting into flames after hitting the ground and then thick black smoke pouring into the air

The single-engine plane An-2 went into production shortly after World War II. It was typically used for transport or crop dusting

The single-engine plane An-2 went into production shortly after World War II. It was typically used for transport or crop dusting

The spokesman said the plane came down in a field and no spectators were hurt. Police were at the scene working to establish the cause of the crash.

A source in the emergency services told TASS news agency that pilot error was viewed as the most likely cause of the crash.

Video taken by horrified onlookers showed the Antonov propeller plane bursting into flames after hitting the ground and then thick black smoke pouring into the air.

The single-engine plane An-2 went into production shortly after World War II and was typically used for transport or crop dusting.

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