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2 WWII planes collide & crash at Texas airshow (Video)

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Two vintage World War Two-era planes have collided and crashed at an air show in the US state of Texas, killing at least two.

Footage shows the aircraft striking each other at a low altitude, breaking one of the aircraft in half. A fireball can be seen as it hits the ground.

The planes – one of them a Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress – were taking part in a commemorative air show near Dallas.

It was not immediately clear how many people were in the two aircraft.

The Allied Pilots Association, which represents American Airlines pilots, said Terry Barker and Len Root – two of its former members – were among people who died in the collision.

Other media reports suggest as many as six people may have died in the collision.

Eyewitness Chris Kratovil – who was one of between 4,000 and 6,000 who had gathered to watch the Wings Over Dallas Airshow on Saturday – told the BBC he had “never seen a crowd grow more quiet or more still in just a blink of an eye”.

“It went from being a fairly excited, energetic crowd… to complete silence and stillness, and a lot of people, including myself, turned their children towards them and away from the airfield because there was burning wreckage in the middle of the airfield.”

The Federal Aviation Administration said it will investigate the crash at the three-day event, which describes itself as the US’s premiere WW2 air show and was being held in honour of Veterans Day,

Dallas Mayor Eric Johnson called it a “terrible tragedy”.

“The videos are heart-breaking,” he tweeted. “Please, say a prayer for the souls who took to the sky to entertain and educate our families today.”

The number of casualties are not yet confirmed, he said, but added that nobody on the ground had been reported injured.

The event’s website states that several planes had been scheduled to do a flyover demonstration on Saturday.

The B-17 bomber played a major role in winning the air war against Germany in WW2.

The second plane, a P-63 Kingcobra, was a fighter aircraft used in the same war, but used in combat only by the Soviet Air Force.

The B-17 usually has a crew of about four to five people, while the P-63 has a single pilot, said Hank Coates, from the Commemorative Air Force which organised the event – but he could not confirm any fatalities.

“This was a WW2 flight demonstration type air show where we highlight the aircraft and their capabilities,” he told reporters.

(BBC News)

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Man sentenced to 60 years for abusing brother’s preschool daughter

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The Colombo High Court Judge, R.S.S Sapuwidana sentenced a 68 year old man to 60 years of rigorous imprisonment after finding him guilty of sexually abusing his own brother’s preschool daughter over a period of more than two months.

The High Court Judge imposed an additional fine of Rs. 30,000 on the accused and also ordered him to pay Rs. 1 million in compensation to the victim.

The judge emphasised the inhumanity and cruelty of the crime, saying, “This is not merely an offense against a child but an act that shocks the conscience of humanity.”

Evidence revealed that the child, too young to fully understand what was happening, had once told her mother, “Amma, don’t let that ‘holman bappa’ come to our house again,” a statement later confirmed through witness testimony.

The prosecution revealed that the accused had entered the child’s home and also lured the child to his own residence during times when no one was present and committed the offense. Thereafter, he had threatened the child, warning her not to disclose the incident to anyone and that if she did, it would happen again. As a result of this intimidation, the child had been subjected to repeated abuse over a period of time.

Considering all the evidence, the High Court Judge held that the prosecution had proved the case beyond reasonable doubts.

(dailymirror.lk)

(This story, originally published by dailymirror.lk has not been edited by SLM staff)

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2 ex-heads of govt. institutions, arrested

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The Commission to Investigate Allegations of Bribery or Corruption (CIABOC) has arrested two former Chairmen on corruption charges.

Former Chairman of the Fisheries Corporation – Upali Liyanage and former SriLankan Airlines Chairman – Nishantha Wickremesinghe have been arrested in this manner.

However, Liyanage, who was produced before Colombo Chief Magistrate Thanuja Lakmali Jayathunga, was released on three sureties amounting to Rs. 5 million.

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Derailment disrupts train operations on upcountry line

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Train operations on the upcountry railway line have been disrupted after a train derailed at the Rambukkana railway station today (June 27).

The derailed train was travelling from Colombo to Rambukkana.

Accordingly, train services along the upcountry Line have been suspended, and alternative transportation arrangements are being made.

Meanwhile,  efforts to re-rail the derailed train are underway.

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