‘Highly-skilled’ pilot killed in plane crash in front of live show audience
A ‘highly skilled’ pilot has died after crashing during a performance at an air show in South Africa.
James O’Connell was performing at the West Coast Air Show in Saldanha, 70 miles north of Cape Town, on Saturday afternoon.
Footage filmed at the air show captured the plane spinning in mid-air before flying towards the ground, causing a huge fireball and plume of smoke to fly into the air as onlookers screamed.
Organisers of the show shared the pilot’s identity and said it did not appear that he made any attempt to eject before the plane hit the ground.
The organisers said in a statement: ‘It is with profound sadness that the organisers of the West Coast Airshow confirm a fatal accident involving James O’Connell, a highly skilled and respected test pilot from South Africa.
‘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.
‘It was especially a huge moment because the Impala has not been seen performing at air shows for many years.
‘The manoeuvres were being executed as part of the official air show programme, witnessed by thousands of spectators.
‘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.
‘Our thoughts and deepest sympathies are with James’s family, loved ones, and everyone affected by this very tragic event.’
The West Coast Air Show described Mr O’Connell as a decorated retired officer of the South African Air Force. They said he had more than 4,000 hours of flying rotary-wing aircraft and 1,600 hours on fixed-wing crafts logged.
Medical rescue staff arrived at the scene within two minutes but found the wreckage of the plane ‘engulfed in flames’. No other injuries were reported.
The South African Civil Aviation Authority, as well as the Air Force’s accident unit, are investigating the incident, Sky News reports.
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