HELSINKI — A tragic accident occurred in southern Finland as two German pilots lost their lives when their World War II-era aircraft crashed shortly after takeoff on Wednesday. The T-6 Texan, a historical single-engine and two-seater plane that was initially designed as a military trainer in the 1930s and is now often seen at air shows, went down in a forested area close to the Rayskala aviation airfield. According to local law enforcement, both pilots were experienced.

The incident was confirmed by police, who reported that the aircraft fell abruptly to the ground and ignited upon impact. Finnish authorities involved in the investigation believe that an engine failure was likely the cause of the crash.

The plane, which belonged to German owners, had recently been sold and was undergoing a test flight before its scheduled transfer back to Germany. As noted by Finnish news agency STT, this particular aircraft was manufactured in 1942 and was uniquely the only one of its type operating in Finland. The navy variant of the T-6 had been brought into the country in 2020 and underwent its most recent inspection just earlier this month.

Rayskala, located approximately 100 kilometers (60 miles) from Finland’s capital, Helsinki, is recognized as the largest sports aviation hub in the Nordic region, according to its official site. The unfortunate loss of life in this event serves as a somber reminder of the risks associated with flying vintage aircraft.