Two Crop Dusters Collide, Killing One

BELLE GLADE, Fla. (AP) -- Two crop dusters collided on an airport runway Tuesday and burst into flames, killing one of the pilots, officials said.

One plane, loaded for a spraying run, was taking off, while the other, empty after an early morning flight, was landing, Belle Glade police Lt. Robert Wheelihan said.

He said the body of Luis Luis, 64, was found in the wreckage. The other pilot walked away from the crash.

The spray chemicals were cleaned up by firefighters and there was no danger to the public, Wheelihan said.

The Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation and Safety Board were investigating.

The planes belonged to Glades Ag Service, Wheelihan said. A man who answered the telephone there Tuesday declined to answer questions.

Several agricultural companies operate crop dusters from the airport in this small city near Lake Okeechobee.