Plane crashes during air show in South Africa: experienced pilot dies – video
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Impala Mark 1 (Photo: Depositphotos)
At the West Coast Air Show in Saldanha, South Africa, the pilot of a demonstration aircraft lost control, resulting in a crash. He was an experienced aviator, as reported by Sky News.
The event took place on March 22, approximately 110 km north of Cape Town. Pilot James O’Connell, a well-known aircraft tester, was executing maneuvers in an Impala Mark 1 during a demonstration flight before a sizable crowd.
According to a statement from the event organizers, O’Connell was showcasing the aircraft’s capabilities, which holds significant meaning for many South Africans. This was a notable occasion since the Impala had not been featured at an air show for a considerable time. Observers indicated that the aircraft seemed to be under complete control for the majority of the performance, but during one of its concluding maneuvers, it suddenly lost altitude and began to descend rapidly.
The organizers mentioned that the pilot did not attempt to eject from the aircraft.
Emergency medical services arrived at the scene of the crash in under two minutes; however, the wreckage of the aircraft was already fully engulfed in flames.
The South African Civil Aviation Authority is currently investigating to ascertain the reasons behind this tragedy.
- On January 29, 2025, an American F-35 fighter jet crashed in Alaska.
- On January 30, reports emerged of a collision between a commercial airliner and a military helicopter, which plunged into a river in Washington. This aviation disaster marked the deadliest incident in the last 24 years in the United States. There were 64 individuals aboard the passenger aircraft and three on the military chopper. All are believed to be deceased.
