7 dead, 15 missing as Slovakia planes collide

Seven people died and 15 were missing Thursday when two planes with dozens of parachutists aboard collided in mid-air in Slovakia, according to media reports.

The crash happened in the west of the country near the village of Cerveny Kamen. Zuzana Farkasova, a spokeswoman for the Slovak fire service, told The Associated Press. Rescuers were trying to reach the crash site in the White Carpathians mountain range by helicopter.

Juraj Denes, an official with the government agency that investigates plane crashes, told the news agency that 40 people were on two LET L-410 planes when the crash happened at an altitude of 4,921 feet, according to preliminary information.

Denes said the parachutists from one plane survived because they jumped out of the aircraft ahead of the collision.

TA3 news television reported the dead included two crew members and three parachutists, and that 15 parachutists were missing, according to the AP. All the parachutists were training for an air show in nearby Slavnica during the weekend, the TV station added.