Couple critically injured in fiery airshow crash

A husband and wife aerobatics team is hospitalized after they were forced to make an emergency landing during Air Fiesta 2011 taking place at the Brownsville-South Padre Island International Airport Saturday afternoon.

Air Fiesta Operations Officer Chris Hughston said the Franklin's were at a key point of their wing-walking act when their plane suffered engine failure.

Amanda was on the wing of the plane and was able to get back inside while flames shot out of the back of the engine.

"We heard the plane sputter and knew something was wrong," said Esmeralda Torres of San Benito. "She (Amanda) was able to get back inside the plane and then we saw smoke and  flames."

Torres says after the plane crashed there was a cloud of black smoke and the smell of fuel filled the air.

Hughston said Kyle Franklin was able to make a crash landing, but then the plane caught fire.

Both of the Franklin's suffered burns to 60 to 70-percent of their bodies.

The couple was airlifted to a burn hospital in San Antonio where both are listed in critical condition.

Hughston said the modern military exhibition after the couple's act was suspended. Saturday's fly-by of a Northrop Grumman B-2 Spirit went on as planned. Officials said the pilot wanted to do so to honor the Franklins.

Sunday's program will continue, but will be shorter sans the Franklin's "Pirated Skies" aerobatic act which was one of the headlining acts at this year's Air Fiesta 2011.

Earlier this week Amanda Franklin talked to Brownsville Herald Reporter Steve Clark. She told him of the airshow accident in 2005 that killed her father and father-in-law. Franklin said despite the loss she and her husband never considered quitting.

“That never crossed our minds ever,” she says. “We both have such a passion for flying. It’s in our blood. There is risk in what we do. We acknowledge that. We take every precaution that we can to eliminate the risk to make it safe. But if you live your life in fear that something could go wrong, you’re not living your life.”

For fans like Torres it was a frightening afternoon.

"I hope I don't ever see that again. It was awful and sad."

For more on this story read Sunday's Brownsville Herald.