An unfortunate accident occurred this Thursday in La Joliesa, a community association near Llíria in Valencia, when a man died after a collision with a model airplane. The incident was reported around 09.10, prompting authorities to respond quickly to the scene.
Uniformed Civil Guard patrols arrived first, securing the area and requesting the presence of the Llíria Judicial Police team after carefully confirming the report’s accuracy. The authorities began documenting the scene and gathering initial testimonies from witnesses and club members who were nearby when the tragedy happened.
The deceased is identified as a 64-year-old businessman from Valencia who was nearing retirement. He had recently expressed plans to purchase his own model aircraft and had been actively involved in flying sessions at the club. Moments before the accident, he was preparing to travel across a designated runway area in what appeared to be a routine activity. The runway in question measures about 17 meters in width and is clearly marked as off-limits during flight operations to prevent interference with ongoing aeronautical activity.
Preliminary information suggests that overconfidence may have played a role. It is reported that another club member crossed the runway without regard to the timing of an ongoing simulated landing maneuver by a different participant, which involved a two-meter Eurofighter scale model. This event is believed to have contributed to the fatal impact as the smaller aircraft struck the victim near the middle of the track, resulting in a fatal injury.
The model involved in the incident had a wingspan of 1.60 meters and weighed approximately 11.5 kilograms. At the moment of the crash, the model was traveling at an estimated speed of around 80 kilometers per hour, a velocity capable of causing severe harm in such a crowded and controlled environment. This detail underscores the potential danger inherent in model aviation when safety protocols are not strictly observed.
The deceased, a long-time member of the club and a passionate admirer of model aviation, was described by fellow enthusiasts as a person who cherished the hobby deeply. Club sources note that the site of the accident marked a historic moment for the association, reflecting the tight-knit community’s sense of loss and its commitment to understanding what went wrong.
Civil Guard investigations
Forensic and technical experts from the Civil Guard and the Forensic Police have begun a comprehensive investigation into the accident. Their objective is to identify the precise causes that led to the plane crashing to the ground and to determine if any safety measures were breached at the time of the incident. The on-site examination includes reviewing flight plans, verifying the timing of operations, and assessing whether the runway rules were observed during the event.
Following confirmation of the man’s death, the Civil Guard notified the court on duty, and the judicial commission proceeded to the location to supervise the ongoing inquiry. A coroner conducted an initial assessment, and the presiding judge ordered the body to be removed and transported to the Forensic Medicine Institute for autopsy and further analysis. The results of these investigations will be essential in clarifying responsibility and preventing similar tragedies in the future, according to official statements and ongoing inquiries.