‘Highly-skilled’ pilot killed in plane crash at air show in South Africa as footage reveals moment aircraft plummets
A PILOT has tragically died after his plane spiralled out of control and exploded in a fireball crash at an air show.
Terrifying footage shows the moment the plane plunged towards the ground before a huge blast erupted in front of horrified onlookers on Saturday.
The crash happened at the West Coast Air Show in Saldanha, a town about 70 miles north of Cape Town.
Elowayne Gouws, the director of West Coast Medical Rescue said the plane’s wreckage was found “engulfed in flames” within two minutes as rescuers rushed to the scene.
Heartbroken organisers of the South African aerial display named James O’Connell as the “highly-skilled” pilot who died.
In a statement shared on social media they said: “It is with profound sadness that the organisers of the West Coast Airshow confirm a fatal accident involving James O’Connell.
“Mr O’Connell was performing a routine display intended to demonstrate the capabilities of the Impala Mark 1 – a beloved warbird with deep historical significance for many South Africans.
“Eyewitness accounts report that the aircraft appeared to be under control during most of the display.
“However, during one of the final manoeuvres, the aircraft experienced a sudden loss of altitude and entered a steep dive before making contact with the ground.”
Organisers said there was no sign the pilot made any attempt to eject as the plane started to crash land.
No other injuries were reported despite a large crowd gathering for the West Coast Air Show in Saldanha.
The West Coast Air Show described O’Connell as a decorated, retired officer of the South African Air Force who has over 36 years of flight experience.
They added he had logged over 4,000 hours on rotary-wing aircraft and 1,600 hours on fixed-wing aircraft as well.
The South African Civil Aviation Authority (SACAA) and the South African Air Force’s accident unit are now investigating the incident.
SACCA head of communication Sisa Majola told national news site Times Live: “There is one confirmed fatality, a pilot on board an Impala aircraft.”
Further updates will be shared when more information is available, organisers of the show said.
It comes less than a week after a plane carrying 17 people tragically crashed into the sea – killing a popular music star.
Twelve people died after the aircraft struck the Caribbean Sea just minutes after it took off from Roatan Island, Honduras, on Monday.
Several US nationals, a French citizen, and two children were among those killed in the horror air disaster.