Kiel — A civilian Learjet crashed at the Hohn airbase in northern Germany's Schleswig-Holstein on Monday, killing two people, a spokesman for the Airbus company confirmed.
The aircraft, owned by subsidiary GFD (Gesellschaft für Flugzieldarstellung), crashed to the ground within the airbase during take-off at 12:45pm ( 1145 GMT), he said.
The twin-engine Learjet was to take off for a training mission with air traffic controllers of the German Air Force in northern Germany.
Experts from the Federal Bureau of Aircraft Accident Investigation immediately travelled from Braunschweig, and were to begin their investigations in the afternoon.
Airbus expressed its deepest condolences to the families affected by this tragic accident.
Defence Minister Boris Pistorius reacted with dismay on the sidelines of the handover roll call of the Territorial Command in Berlin.
"Our thoughts are with the relatives and friends of the two deceased. Our deepest sympathy goes out to them in these difficult hours. What caused the terrible accident and thus the death of two people is now the subject of investigation."
For a long time, the German Air Force Air Transport Squadron 63 was stationed at Hohn near Rendsburg.
Transall aircraft took off from the airfield for many missions, including international ones. The squadron was disbanded at the end of 2021. However, the airfield will continue to be operated as an alternative airfield by the German Air Force.
According to information on its website, the GFD has Learjets of the types LR-35A and LR-36A. The aircraft can be used for aerial target display with and without towed targets. Aerial target displays are needed so that military units can practise sea- or land-based air defence with guided missiles and barrelled weapons.
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