A “highly skilled” pilot’s final moments were tragically captured on video before he died in a crash at an air show in South Africa over the weekend.
The fatal incident involving James O’Connell unfolded on Saturday at the Saldanha Bay Airfield, located outside of Cape Town. Footage showed a plane executing an aerial maneuver before crashing into the ground, resulting in a fireball and audible gasps from the crowd.
“It is with profound sadness that the organizers of the West Coast Airshow confirm a fatal accident involving James O’Connell, a highly skilled and respected test pilot from South Africa, when he piloted the Impala Mark 1 aircraft during today’s display in Saldanha,” stated the event’s organizers.
“Mr. O’Connell was performing a routine display intended to showcase the capabilities of the Impala Mark 1—a beloved warbird with significant historical importance for many South Africans. This was a particularly notable moment as the Impala had not been seen in airshow displays for many years,” they added. “The maneuvers were executed as part of the official airshow program, witnessed by thousands of spectators.”
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Video footage of the incident showed a cloud of black smoke rising into the sky following the crash.
“He rolled the aircraft… he turned the aircraft, the undercarriage was up. As he came out of it, one could clearly see that he was losing altitude,” airshow commentator Brian Emmenis was quoted as saying by the organizers. “He went out toward the hangars – at that stage he was in a serious deep dive – and he went straight into the ground. There was no indication of an attempt to eject.”
“Emergency services responded immediately, while the crowd remained behind the barriers, completely stunned, and medical attention was provided to those in attendance,” he added.
No spectators were injured in the crash, and the South African Civil Aviation Authority along with Air Show South Africa are currently investigating the incident.
“The organizers extend their deepest condolences to Mr. O’Connell’s family, friends, and aviation colleagues,” they concluded.
