Accidents

Flying Cars Collide Mid-Air During China Airshow Rehearsal

Published SEP 18 2025

Story

Above: Flight rehearsal ahead of the 2025 Changchun Air Show on Sept. 16, 2025, in China. Image credit: Zhou Guoqiang/VCG/Getty Images

The Facts

Two electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) vehicles manufactured by Xpeng Aeroht collided during a rehearsal for the Changchun Air Show in northeastern China's Jilin Province on Tuesday afternoon.
Independent
CNN
Bloomberg.com
The collision reportedly occurred due to insufficient spacing between the aircraft while they were performing formation flight maneuvers, according to statements released by the company following the incident.
BBC News
Interesting Engineering
Gizmodo
One vehicle landed safely after the collision, while the second aircraft sustained fuselage damage and caught fire upon landing, requiring emergency response from fire trucks and ambulances at the scene.
Interesting Engineering
CNN
Newsweek
Xpeng Aeroht confirmed that all personnel at the scene were safe and that local authorities completed on-site emergency measures in an orderly manner, though one pilot sustained minor injuries.
The Sun
Independent
The Straits Times
The eVTOL vehicles are part of China's low-altitude economy initiative, a sector that encompasses flying taxis and drone deliveries in airspace below 3,000 meters (9,843 feet) and is forecast to reach $206 billion by 2025.
BBC News
CNN
XINHUA
Xpeng Aeroht has reportedly received approximately 3,000 pre-orders for its vehicles as of January, with plans to begin mass production in 2026. It will also conduct its first overseas test flight of its eVTOL vehicle in Dubai next month.
Independent
TechCrunch
South China Morning Post

Sources Split

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The Spin

Techno-skeptic narrative

This crash exposes the premature rush to commercialize flying car technology before adequate safety protocols are established. The collision during a simple formation flight demonstrates that these vehicles aren't ready for public use, let alone mass production by 2026 as promised.

The Telegraph

Mario Nawfal on X

Techno-optimist narrative

One isolated incident during high-difficulty stunt maneuvers shouldn't overshadow the tremendous progress in eVTOL technology and China's leadership in the growing low-altitude economic sector. The quick emergency response and minimal injuries prove that safety systems work effectively.