Two Freight Runners Cargo Planes Collide on Milwaukee Taxiway

Jan. 25, 2007
The airport closed immediately, and crews put out the fire, officials said. It reopened about a half-hour after the accident.

Two cargo planes collided and burned on an airport taxiway Wednesday night, but no serious injuries were reported.

Both pilots escaped after the crash between small cargo planes at General Mitchell International Airport, though one had a minor hand injury, an official said.

The planes - a Cessna 402 and a Beech 99 - both belonged to Freight Runners Express Inc. of Milwaukee, airport officials said.

"I'm told that one (plane) had just landed and was taxiing into the cargo area," said airport director Barry Bateman. "A significant fireball occurred."

The airport closed immediately, and crews put out the fire, officials said. It reopened about 8:30 p.m., about a half-hour after the accident.

It was unclear what caused the collision.

On Sunday, a Northwest Airlines DC-9 skidded off a runway after an engine problem.

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