A “extremely expert” pilot’s remaining moments have been captured on video earlier than he died in a crash at an air present in South Africa over the weekend.
The deadly incident involving James O’Connell unfolded Saturday on the Saldanha Bay Airfield outdoors of Cape City. Footage confirmed a aircraft performing an aerial maneuver earlier than crashing into the bottom, producing a fireball and drawing screams from these in attendance.
“It’s with profound unhappiness that the organizers of the West Coast Airshow affirm a deadly accident involving James O’Connell, a extremely expert and revered check pilot from South Africa, when he piloted the Impala Mark 1 plane throughout immediately’s show in Saldanha,” the occasion’s organizers mentioned in an announcement.
“Mr. O’Connell was performing a routine show supposed to show the capabilities of the Impala Mark 1 – a beloved warbird with deep historic significance for a lot of South Africans – it was particularly an enormous second as a result of the Impala has not been seen acting at airshows for a few years,” they added. “The maneuvers have been being executed as a part of the official airshow program, witnessed by 1000’s of spectators.”
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A aircraft flown by James O’Connell is seen moments earlier than crashing on Saturday in South Africa throughout an airshow. (Maritha Wagner/TMX)
Video of the incident confirmed a cloud of black smoke rising up into the sky following the crash.
“He rolled the plane… he turned the plane, the undercarriage was up. On popping out of it, one may clearly see that he was dropping top,” airshow commentator Brian Emmenis was quoted by the organizers as saying. “He went out towards the hangars – he was at that stage in a critical deep dive – and he went straight into the bottom. There was no signal of an try to eject.”
A fireball is seen on the Saldanha Bay Airfield north of Cape City on Saturday, March 22, because the aircraft crashed. (Maritha Wagner/TMX)
“Emergency companies responded instantly, the group remained behind the obstacles, completely shocked, and medical consideration was handed to the group,” he added.
No spectators have been injured in the crash, and the South African Civil Aviation Authority and Air Present South Africa are actually investigating.
The South African Civil Aviation Authority and Air Present South Africa are actually investigating the deadly crash. (Maritha Wagner/TMX)
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“The organizers lengthen their deepest condolences to Mr. O’Connell’s household, pals and aviation colleagues,” they added.
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