Italian pilot killed in horrific 2-plane collision ahead of airshow (VIDEO)

The incident took place just ahead of Frecce Tricolori airshow when two members of the QBR, "Goodfellas", amateur sports team were performing stunts in their two-seater propeller planes. The airshow scheduled later for Sunday was canceled.

#Tortoreto, schianto fra aerei acrobatici. Le testimonianze: poteva essere una strage http://t.co/oDKr4gNX0zpic.twitter.com/F2VEY7JdmG

— Il Centro (@Il_Centro) May 31, 2015

“We saw two planes flying at low altitude and not very fast. When they clashed we heard a bang and within seconds they had fallen into the sea, not far from the shoreline,” Marco Valenti told local news.

According to local authorities, a 47- year old pilot from Sienna, Marco Ricci, died in the crash. He was found dead under the fuselage of his plane about 2 kilometers offshore, according to Teramo’s fire department. His body was recovered by divers who first used an air balloon to resurface the plane, before pulling the light aircraft ashore.

Marco Ricci (cerchio rosso) Luigi Franceschetti (giallo). Con loro D. Paolacci, I. Ingenito (Qbr) e Jan Slangen (Pan) pic.twitter.com/JEeQzvF8rG

— Il Centro (@Il_Centro) May 31, 2015

The other pilot, Luigi Wilmo Franceschetti, 43, performed an emergency landing on the beach and managed to survive. He has now been hospitalized with only minor injuries. An investigation has been opened into the crash, the Flight Safety Agency (ANSV) , deputy prosecutor of Teramo, Stefano Giovagnoni announced, adding that the surviving pilot is now a suspect in a manslaughter case.

Teramo, scontro tra due aerei. Un pilota si è salvato morto l’altro: Teramo, scontro… http://t.co/RWeYczy6zq#M5Spic.twitter.com/KS9V1bHnZJ

— ☆M5S.UCOZ.COM☆ (@MPenikas) May 31, 2015

Scontro tra due aerei della pattuglia acrobatica: si cerca un pilota in mare http://t.co/gREtklGoBM@Il_Centropic.twitter.com/euaAKx2Yyr

— La Cronaca Italiana (@cronitaliana) May 31, 2015