13 skydivers in Colorado jump safely when plane catches fire

[font color=330099]Yikes, the forum purpose says "I've seen it rainin' fire in the sky. Discuss all things Colorado." This story is too literal.[/font]

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (AP) — A skydiving plane caught fire shortly after taking off from a small Colorado airport, and the 13 trained jumpers aboard parachuted to safety before it made an emergency landing, authorities said.

Officials with Out of the Blue Skydiving said they believe the plane struck a bird after leaving Colorado Springs East Airport on Sunday afternoon. Passenger Trent Reese said they heard a pop on board.

"The pilot took a few seconds to assess the situation and he said, 'Everybody out,'" Reese told Colorado Springs TV station KRDO (http://bit.ly/2aM76oL ).

The skydivers jumped from the plane and were picked up by company workers, the El Paso County Sheriff's Office said. No injuries were reported, and the plane landed safety back at the airport. The National Transportation Safety Board will investigate.

Read more: http://hosted2.ap.org/COGRA/a1210881e1db47d69e4869ba913e6100/Article_2016-08-08-US--Skydiving%20Plane-Emergency%20Landing/id-b9b1313b81624bb1a4c04d02bcaa9ee7 (Grand Junction Daily Sentinel)