Sport aircraft in Vilshofen: Flame inferno when refueling!

Sport aircraft in Vilshofen: Flame inferno when refueling!

Yesterday, July 1, 2025, a sports aircraft got into a dramatic incident while refueling in Vilshofen an der Donau in the Passau district. A 53-year-old pilot had just refueled the plane when flames suddenly burst from the engine compartment and spread quickly. Süddeutsche reports that the pilot reacted immediately and interrupted the spray meter. Fortunately, he was uninjured, but the material damage is estimated at at least 100,000 euros. Investigators are currently considering a technical defect as a possible cause of the fire.

The fire department was able to quickly extinguish the fire, but the aircraft was almost completely burned out. This shows how important it is to react quickly in such situations in order to prevent anything worse from happening.

Aviation accidents in focus

In recent years, the overall number and severity of plane crashes have decreased. In 2024, there were only 268 deaths worldwide from such tragic events, which represents a significant decrease compared to previous times, when there were often over 1,000 victims annually shows a Statista analysis. Nevertheless, there are always reports of accidents in aviation, so awareness remains high.

Another worrying incident occurred on Friday afternoon in Sankt Augustin, where a sports plane crashed shortly after take-off. The pilot, a 51-year-old emergency doctor and university professor, reported engine problems upon takeoff, whereupon the plane crashed into a field and burst into flames reports fire department magazine. Tragic: The pilot died in the crash, while his six-year-old daughter was seriously injured and was able to escape the wreckage and is now in critical condition in a hospital.

The emergency services were faced with a dramatic situation. More than 60 firefighters were mobilized to extinguish the flames and secure the crash site. The Federal Bureau of Aircraft Accident Investigation (BFU) has already started investigating the cause of the crash in order to gain further information.

A look at aviation accidents

Interestingly, although many accidents often occur during the landing process, the accident rate in commercial aviation is low compared to road transport due to the complicated angle and speed requirements. Airlines are now implementing technical innovations such as landing assistants to increase safety.

In light of these recent incidents, the discussion about aviation safety remains current and relevant. While it is encouraging that the statistics show fewer fatalities, tragedies like the one in Sankt Augustin and the dire situation in Vilshofen are a stark reminder that even small aircraft carry their risks.