Two student pilots have died following a mid-air crash between two planes near Steinbach, Man., Tuesday morning, a flight school in the area confirmed.

Adam Penner, one of the owners of flight school Harv’s Air, said the student pilots were trying to land the two planes at the same time when the collision occurred. He said the close-knit group of students and staff are devastated about what happened.

“It’s very tough, we’re kind of a small family here,” he said.

According to RCMP, officers were notified of the crash at 8:45 a.m. in the Rural Municipality of Hanover.

RCMP, fire department and emergency medical services responded and found the wreckage of two small, single-engine aircraft south of Steinbach.

Nathaniel Plett said he heard the planes crashing Tuesday morning while drinking coffee with his wife.

“We heard a noise, sounded like an airplane revving its engine, and then the propeller suddenly stopping, like a couple of thuds,” he said. “Then we heard a bang and obviously they hit the ground.”

Plett called 911 and was told they had received several calls already about the crash. He then went out to check on the scene and was able to see one of the planes that crashed.

“The plane was burning,” he said. “The wheels had broken off, the wings were intact, the cockpit was there, but it was burning and plowed into the ground.”

Penner said the planes involved were a Cessna 152 and a Cessna 172.

Penner said the crash happened while the students were practicing takeoffs and landings.

RCMP said the two pilots of the planes were pronounced dead at the scene. There were no passengers on board either plane. Their names have not been released.

The Transportation Safety Board of Canada has been notified and is investigating.