Two Italian AF jets collide in midair

(ANSA) - Ascoli Piceno, August 19 - Firefighters in the hills above the Marche town of Ascoli Piceno are battling a blaze caused by a midair plane collision, police said Tuesday.
    The fire broke out shortly after a blast was heard, possibly when the two planes collided, police added.
    The colliding planes were Italian Air Force Tornado jet fighters on a training run, qualified sources told ANSA. Eyewitnesses saw one of the two jets burst into flames after they touched in midair, then both craft fell out of the sky. No parachutes were seen, and the fire is raging in several different spots on the ground, including near the village of Casa Murana, sources said.