Two World War 2 planes collide mid-air at Dallas air show

Footage shows the aircraft striking each other at a low altitude, breaking one of the aircraft in half. A fireball can be seen as it hits the ground.

The planes - one of them a Boeing B-17 Flying Fortress - were taking part in a commemorative air show near Dallas.

It was not immediately clear how many people were in the two aircraft, but two victims have been named.

The Allied Pilots Association, which represents American Airlines pilots, said Terry Barker and Len Root - two of its former members - were among people who died in the collision.

The Federal Aviation Administration said it will investigate the crash at the Wings Over Dallas Airshow on Saturday, which describes itself as the US's premiere WW2 air show.

The three-day event was being held in honour of Veterans Day, which was on Friday, and between 4,000 and 6,000 people were watching the show.

Dallas Mayor Eric Johnson called it a "terrible tragedy".

"The videos are heart-breaking," he tweeted. "Please, say a prayer for the souls who took to the sky to entertain and educate our families today."

The number of casualties are not yet confirmed, he said, but added that nobody on the ground had been reported injured.

The event's website states that several planes had been scheduled to do a flyover demonstration on Saturday.

The B-17 bomber played a major role in winning the air war against Germany in WW2.

The second plane, a P-63 Kingcobra, was a fighter aircraft used in the same war, but used in combat only by the Soviet Air Force.

The B-17 usually has a crew of about four to five people, while the P-63 has a single pilot, said Hank Coates, from the Commemorative Air Force which organised the event - but he could not confirm any fatalities.

"This was a WW2 flight demonstration type air show where we highlight the aircraft and their capabilities," he told reporters.