F-16 fighter collides with Cessna trainer in US

  • 08/07/2015
F-16 fighters (Reuters)
F-16 fighters (Reuters)

A supersonic F-16 fighter has collided with a small Cessna trainer over the US state of South Carolina, killing both people in the Cessna.

The mid-air collision occurred late on Tuesday morning (local time) about 20km north of Charleston, spreading debris over a wide area, the Federal Aviation Administration said.

The US Air Force identified the F-16 pilot as Major Aaron Johnson, based at Shaw Air Force Base in the centre of the southern American state.

Local media said Johnson - an F-16 pilot since 2005 - was alert and walking after ejecting from his fighter.

The National Transportation Safety Board says both people in the two-seat, single-engine Cessna 150 were killed.

AFP