- By Shivangi Sharma
- Thu, 18 Sep 2025 06:51 PM (IST)
- Source:JND
Two Xpeng AeroHT flying cars collided in mid-air during a rehearsal for the Changchun Air Show on Tuesday afternoon. The accident took place in Changchun, Jilin Province, as the city prepared to host the five-day event starting on Friday. One of the vehicles caught fire upon landing, while the other touched down safely, according to a statement from Xpeng AeroHT.The corporation issued a statement that all staff at the scene were safe.
Emergency services and local authorities responded quickly. Videos were shared online, including on the Chinese social media platform Weibo, of a plume of smoke from the burning car, as fire engines and ambulances screeched towards the scene.
Xpeng stated that “all personnel at the scene are safe, and local authorities have carried out on-site emergency procedures in an orderly fashion.” Some reports indicated that one individual might have sustained injuries during the incident.
长春航展两架飞行汽车在空中相撞坠落起火！9月16日，长春航展预演结束后，广东汇天通航参与双机编队演练期间。两架eVTOL（电动垂直起降飞行器）在空中相撞后坠机，在地面燃起大火... pic.twitter.com/pYWqziAHUD
— 希望之聲 - 中國時局 (@SoundOfHope_SOH) September 17, 2025
Cause of The Accident
Xpeng AeroHT blamed the accident on "inadequate spacing" between the cars during the rehearsal.
One of the cars suffered fuselage damage and was engulfed in flames on landing, the company confirmed. The agencies completed the emergency procedures in an orderly fashion, officials said.
The exact cause of the accident remains under investigation.
The Xpeng AeroHT flying cars are electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft. They are produced by AeroHT, a subsidiary of Chinese electric car leader Xpeng. The cars can land and take off vertically, and they are ideal for use in urban areas. It will sell the unit for approximately USD 300,000.
Xpeng AeroHT has plans to create flying camps near cities and popular autonomous driving routes. These camps will be outfitted with take-off and landing pads and airspace allocation. The company plans to provide flight experience and operational services to customers.
The company stated that it was researching the cause of the crash. The authorities and Xpeng AeroHT will investigate the accident to avoid such mishaps in the future. Even in the face of the accident, the airshow rehearsal proceeded safely, and preparations for the Changchun Air Show are ongoing.