Coronary heart-stopping footage confirmed the second a aircraft manned by a “highly skilled” pilot nosedived and crashed throughout a South African air present that left hundreds of spectators horrified Saturday.
Take a look at pilot James O’Connell died after he out of the blue misplaced altitude when he tried to drag one in every of his remaining maneuvers within the Impala Mark 1 he was working earlier than it spiraled right into a grassy space, the West Coast Saldanha Bay Air Present mentioned in an announcement.
“He was in a serious deep dive and went straight into the ground,” mentioned air present commentator Brian Emmenis.
“There was no sign of any attempt to eject. The crowd remained behind the barriers, totally stunned.”
Nobody on the bottom was injured as emergency providers flooded the world.
Medics discovered the wreckage from the warbird “engulfed in flames,” director of West Coast Medical Rescue Elowayne Gouws informed Information 24.
O’Connell was pronounced lifeless on the scene.
Video of his remaining seconds confirmed the aircraft rotating mid-air earlier than it out of the blue misplaced altitude after which plunged practically straight down. A plume of thick smoke could possibly be seen the place he crashed.
The shocked crowd gasped and set free terrified shrieks as a public announcer tried to get the viewers to stay calm.
The nation’s Civil Aviation Authority and Air Present South Africa are probing the reason for the doomed flight.
O’Connell was remembered as a “highly skilled and respected” pilot from South Africa, air present officers mentioned.
“At this stage, no further details can be confirmed until the investigation is concluded,” the air present mentioned in its assertion.
“The organizers extend their deepest condolences to Mr. O’Connell’s family, friends, and aviation colleagues.”
