Article Posted on : - Aug 20, 2014

ROME (AP): Italian news reports say two Italian Tornado fighter jets have collided over eastern Italy during a training mission and crashed into a wooded area that caught fire.

A Civil Protection official, Susanna Balducci, told Sky TG24 TV there were no civilian casualties on the ground after the crash on Tuesday afternoon in woods near the town of Ascoli, but she had no details about the fate of those aboard the aircraft.

Defence Ministry officials say they're awaiting an official report from the field before making any statement.

Balducci said a firefighting helicopter was trying to extinguish the blaze, whose flames and dark smoke were visible for kilometres.

Witnesses quoted in Italian news reports said they saw two military planes flying low near Ascoli, then heard a crash and saw flames.