A mid-air collision between two gliders occurred this afternoon over Genk, shortly after take-off from the Zwartberg airfield (GNK). Both pilots were able to deploy parachutes and safely abandon their aircraft before landing, according to local authorities.
The incident took place around 14:15 above the Biegrachtstraat area. Emergency services confirmed that both young pilots survived and are receiving medical attention, with only minor injuries reported.
Debris from the two gliders fell into residential gardens and onto a garden shed, prompting police to cordon off the area. Authorities stressed that no residents were injured.
Witnesses described hearing a loud bang and seeing one pilot in a parachute suspended in a tree, while neighbours helped search for the second pilot before emergency responders located him nearby.
The Belgian public prosecutor’s office has confirmed the investigation is ongoing, while emergency services secured the crash site and recovered wreckage scattered across the neighbourhood.