Dallas Air Show Disaster: B-17 Flying Fortress and P-63 Kingcobra Collide Mid-Air

In November 2022, spectators at a Dallas air show witnessed a devastating tragedy when two World War II-era aircraft — a B-17 Flying Fortress and a P-63 Kingcobra — collided in mid-air. The collision happened during a commemorative flight honoring America’s aviation history, instantly destroying both planes and claiming the lives of all crew members aboard.

The B-17 Flying Fortress, one of the most iconic heavy bombers of the Second World War, and the P-63 Kingcobra, a rare fighter aircraft, were part of a Heritage Flight demonstration. As the planes crossed paths, the P-63 struck the bomber, leading to a fiery crash that shocked thousands of onlookers below. Within seconds, debris rained down as families, veterans, and aviation enthusiasts watched in horror.