Military plane crashes during Pennsylvania air show

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WILLOW GROVE, Pa. - A military plane crashed in the woods during an air show Sunday at Willow Grove Naval Air Station.

Levent Aydin, a Montgomery County emergency dispatcher, said two people were reported dead, but did not elaborate.

Military authorities could not immediately confirm the deaths, and it was not known whether the victims were the plane's two crew members.

The F-14 Tomcat was taking part in one of the final performances at the Willow Grove 2000 Sounds of Freedom show when it went down at 4:43 p.m. in a wooded area near houses outside the base, authorities said.

Three emergency personnel were treated for injuries at the scene of the crash, and one of them, a military firefighter, was transported back to the base for treatment, Aydin said. There were no reports of any civilian injuries.

The Tomcat apparently was displaying a landing wave-off maneuver, coming in at slow speed, when trouble developed and it careened into the woods, KYW radio reported.

Witnesses reported an explosion and flames coming from the aircraft after it hit the ground.

The military base is 15 miles north of Philadelphia.

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