‘Died doing what he loved’: tributes pour in for pilots after military planes crash at airshow

Tributes have poured in for pilots who were among the six killed when two historic military planes collided in midair during a show in Dallas on Saturday afternoon, with people saying they were heartbroken that the aerialists died while engaging in what they loved.

The union which represents pilots for Dallas-based American Airlines said on Twitter that retirees Len Root and Terry Barker were aboard a B-17 Flying Fortress bomber that crashed with a P-63 Kingcobra fighter during an exhibition involving the two second world war-era aircraft.

"Our hearts go out to their families, friends, and colleagues past and present," read the statement from the Allied Pilots Association union.

Meanwhile, numerous people identifying themselves as acquaintances of United Airlines pilot Craig Hutain said he was aboard the single-seat Kingcobra.

Authorities as of Sunday morning had not officially identified any of those who were killed during the disaster, which was captured on several videos circulating on social media.

Yet, as is often the case, people who knew the pilots had already gone online to grieve their unexpected deaths despite a lack of official identification.

"Len tragically died doing what he loved: flying a warbird in an airshow," read one tribute to Root. "To say you will be missed is the world's biggest understatement, my friend. You are loved, and we are all better for having known you."