Two flying cars collided during a rehearsal for an airshow in northeastern China on Tuesday, causing one pilot to be injured and one of the vehicles to crash and catch fire upon landing. The incident took place in Changchun, Jilin Province, as preparations were underway for a five-day airshow starting Friday.
The electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) vehicles, developed by Xpeng Aeroht, a subsidiary of Chinese electric vehicle maker Xpeng, were performing complex stunts in close formation when the collision occurred. According to the company, the crash resulted from “insufficient spacing” between the flying cars. One of the vehicles suffered fuselage damage and ignited after landing, while emergency services responded quickly to the scene.
Authorities confirmed that all personnel on site are safe, and emergency measures were handled in an orderly manner. Investigations into the accident are ongoing. A company insider, speaking anonymously, said one pilot sustained minor injuries during the incident. The eVTOL technology is central to China’s vision for building a “low-altitude economy” that includes flying taxis, drone deliveries, and other applications within airspace under 3,000 meters.
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