Siemens-powered all-electric plane crashes, both pilots killed

After electric cars, an electric plane prototype has recently crashed resulting in deaths of both the two pilots.

A Siemens-powered all-electric plane prototype crashed during a test flight in Hungary last week, killing both pilots aboard. The crash involved an experimental Magnus eFusion aircraft. The reason, however, is unknown.

Siemens said in its statement, “We cannot comment on eventual causes or any circumstances at this point of time. We are working closely together with the authorities to clarify the cause of the accident.”

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The Magnus eFusion aircraft was flown as a part of an inauguration for Magnus’ new headquarters, but unfortunately, crashed in a corn field. The plane is still a prototype, but Magnus planned to soon commercialize and sell it for around $200,000, as per Engadget.

However, Electrek wrote, some eye witnesses gave an account of the incident. Aviation website AVweb reported, “Witnesses reported seeing the aircraft maneuvering at low altitude before catching fire and crashing in a near vertical dive. The impact in a corn field approximately a mile from the Pecs-Pogany Airport (LHPP) caused a fire. ‘The electric aircraft took off at 10:00am (0800 GMT), went on two laps [around the pattern] and then crashed for unknown reason,’ the county police spokesman Dejan Popovics told the Hungarian news agency MTI.”

It has been reported that Siemens was testing high power density electric motors and energy density batteries in the aircraft. Siemens has declared to ground the aircraft until the cause of the fatal accident is known. “As a precautionary measure we decided to ground the Magnus eFusion aircraft fleet until we know the cause of this tragic accident.”