Onlookers have expressed disbelief and grief after witnessing a veteran South African Air Force pilot fatally crash during an air show performance. Spectators recounted the pilot’s final moments as the tragedy unfolded.
James O’Connell perished when his aircraft crashed during his display at the West Coast Air Show, held in Saldanha, approximately 112 kilometers (70 miles) north of Cape Town, over the weekend.
According to event organizers, O’Connell was executing a “routine display” in a retired military plane when it “suffered a sudden loss of altitude and spiraled into a sharp descent.”
An official investigation into the incident is underway as tributes are being paid to the experienced former Air Force pilot.
Numerous videos and images captured O’Connell’s crash, and these have been widely circulated on social media platforms.
Footage shows the aircraft, identified as a 68-year-old Impala Mark 1, flying inverted before righting itself and then plunging nose-first into the ground.
Impact upon crashing caused a large plume of smoke and fire, accompanied by audible gasps of shock from the assembled crowd.
Air show commentator Brian Emmenis, who was providing live narration of O’Connell’s performance at the event, urged the stunned attendees to “remain calm and stay where you are.”
In an interview with the BBC two days following the devastating crash, Emmenis recounted his last interaction with the respected pilot.
Emmenis stated his acquaintance with O’Connell dated back to the latter’s time as a test pilot in the South African Air Force.
He indicated that O’Connell served in the Air Force for nearly three decades before joining the Test Flying Academy of South Africa (TFASA). At TFASA, he held the positions of chief flight instructor and head of the test pilot school. The academy has confirmed that the Impala aircraft was one of their display planes.
Speaking to the BBC on Monday, Emmenis described James O’Connell as “an exceptional test pilot… a well-liked individual, a consummate professional, and a great colleague and friend.”
Emmenis mentioned that he and O’Connell discussed the pilot’s forthcoming performance shortly before takeoff.
He noted that O’Connell appeared to be “in a positive frame of mind” at that moment.
“As he taxied past,” Emmenis recounted, “my words to him were: ‘Have a good display, my friend,’ and he replied: ‘Thanks.'”
In a subsequent statement released by West Coast Air Show organizers, Emmenis explained that O’Connell had entered a “dirty configuration”—a maneuver involving the extension of the undercarriage—during which he inverted the aircraft with the landing gear deployed.
“However, when he turned,” Emmenis continued, “I observed that the aircraft was in a nose-down orientation, which concerned me. I paused my commentary and watched, thinking, ‘He’s very low and diving towards the ground.’ Regrettably, that is precisely what transpired. I waited and then witnessed the explosion; I did not hear the impact due to the distance, but I saw a significant burst of flame.”
The veteran commentator conveyed the widespread shock and devastation within the aviation community following news of O’Connell’s passing.
“South Africa, and indeed the global aviation community, is in mourning. I have received calls from around the world. Aviation is a close-knit community, particularly air show flying, which typically features the most accomplished and skilled pilots.”
While emphasizing that it was premature to speculate on the cause of the accident, Emmenis reasoned that O’Connell, as a “highly qualified test pilot,” would not have attempted any maneuver he deemed beyond his capability.
“It is unlikely,” he stated, “that any pilot would undertake such a maneuver without complete confidence in their ability to execute it.”
Clive Coetzee, organizer of the West Coast Air Show, expressed his profound sadness regarding the incident, highlighting its traumatic impact on attendees and fellow participants alike.
Among those affected was a young pilot scheduled to perform his inaugural air show on the same day, who withdrew upon witnessing O’Connell’s crash.
Despite having only met O’Connell on the day of the fatal accident, Coetzee remembered him as “humorous” and “very pleasant” based on their brief interaction.
Both Coetzee and Emmenis refrained from commenting on the Impala aircraft’s operational history. However, Emmenis affirmed, “It was maintained in pristine condition. When the test flight school acquired it, they meticulously disassembled and inspected it for any defects. It was in perfect working order.”
The Impala, a retired Air Force aircraft, first entered service in 1957.
Leading the tributes to O’Connell was TFASA, which hailed him as a “true aviation legend” with 36 years of flying experience.
Pilot James O’Connell Dies in South African Air Show Crash
Veteran Air Force Pilot Perishes During Performance
A highly experienced South African Air Force pilot, James O’Connell, has died in a plane crash at the West Coast Air Show in Saldanha Bay.
Eyewitness Accounts
- Spectators described their shock as they watched the aircraft plummet to the ground.
- Videos circulating online show the Impala Mark 1 in a steep dive before impact.
- Air show commentator Brian Emmenis recounted his final conversation with O’Connell, noting the pilot was in good spirits before the flight.
Investigation Underway
Authorities have launched a full investigation into the air accident to determine the cause of the crash. Tributes have poured in for James O’Connell, remembered as a respected figure in South African aviation.
Aircraft Details
- The aircraft was identified as an Impala Mark 1, a retired military jet.
- Organizers stated the plane experienced a sudden loss of altitude during a routine maneuver.
- The Impala had been meticulously maintained and inspected, according to sources.