- 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.
Images show smoke coming from the airplane as it did a somersault through the air, before it crashed and caught fire.
Up and away: The horror crash happened during an aerobatic routine at an airshow in the town of Balashikha near Moscow
Wrong turn: Images from the even shows smoke coming from the plane as it somersaulted through the air
The Soviet-era plane ploughed into the ground causing a major fireball explosion, killing two onboard
A police spokesman said: ‘We confirm the crash and that according to our preliminary information two people onboard were killed.’
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.
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
Emergency: A second plane has landed next to the charred remains of the plane
The single-engine plane An-2 went into production shortly after World War II. It was typically used for transport or crop dusting