Heart-stopping footage showed the moment a plane manned by a “highly skilled” pilot nosedived and crashed during a South African air show that left thousands of spectators horrified Saturday.
Test pilot James O’Connell died after he suddenly lost altitude when he attempted to pull one of his final maneuvers in the Impala Mark 1 he was operating before it spiraled into a grassy area, the West Coast Saldanha Bay Air Show said in a statement.
“He was in a serious deep dive and went straight into the ground,” said air show commentator Brian Emmenis.
“There was no sign of any attempt to eject. The crowd remained behind the barriers, totally stunned.”
No one on the ground was injured as emergency services flooded the area.
Medics found the wreckage from the warbird “engulfed in flames,” director of West Coast Medical Rescue Elowayne Gouws told News 24.
O’Connell was pronounced dead at the scene.
Video of his final seconds showed the plane rotating mid-air before it suddenly lost altitude and then plunged nearly straight down. A plume of thick smoke could be seen where he crashed.
The stunned crowd gasped and let out terrified shrieks as a public announcer tried to get the audience to remain calm.
The country’s Civil Aviation Authority and Air Show South Africa are probing the cause of the doomed flight.
O’Connell was remembered as a “highly skilled and respected” pilot from South Africa, air show officials said.
“At this stage, no further details can be confirmed until the investigation is concluded,” the air show said in its statement.
“The organizers extend their deepest condolences to Mr. O’Connell’s family, friends, and aviation colleagues.”
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