13 Die When Planes Collide

A commuter plane slammed into a private aircraft on an airport runway near Quincy, Ill., Tuesday night, exploding into a fireball and killing all 13 people aboard both aircraft.

A United Express turbo prop with nine passengers and a crew of two was landing at Baldwin Municipal Airport when it collided with a smaller plane taxiing for takeoff with two occupants, aviation and emergency officials said. The two planes struck just after 5 p.m., said Toni Taylor, an officer with the Quincy Police Department. Visibility was 10 miles, authorities said.

The crash occurred after the larger plane landed, said Ruth Zenning, a spokeswoman with United Airlines, which contracts with United Express to provide commuter connections.

Witnesses said the smaller plane appeared to run into the United Express plane.