Newlywed killed in gift flight fireball

A woman who was given a ride in a jet plane as a wedding present was killed along with the plane’s pilot when it crashed during an air show.

Spectators at Deke Slayton Airfest in La Crosse, Wisconsin, USA, saw a large piece of the twin-engined jet break off before the plane plunged into the ground and burst into flames.

‘‘It was like confetti coming down just pieces,’’ said a witness.

The Saturday morning crash killed Sara Hanson and pilot Roger Simpson.

Hanson had been married the previous Saturday and her husband, Brad, had flown in the same jet on Friday as part of the plane gift flight.

The plane was a Fouga Magister, a French-made, two-seat military trainer participating in the two-day air festival, said airport manager Mike Daigle.

No one else was hurt.

The festival honours astronaut Donald ‘‘Deke’’ Slayton, who grew up in nearby Sparta.