Pilot James O'Connell Dies in Air Show Crash in South Africa

The decorated South African Air Force veteran was flying a historic Impala Mark 1 aircraft during a live performance attended by thousands.

James O'Connell, a retired South African Air Force officer, tragically died during a performance at the West Coast Air Show in Saldanha on March 22, 2025.
The crash occurred while O'Connell was piloting the Impala Mark 1, a historic aircraft making a rare return to air shows after years of absence.
Eyewitnesses reported the aircraft appeared stable for most of the routine before experiencing a sudden loss of altitude during a final maneuver.
Emergency responders arrived at the scene within two minutes but found the wreckage engulfed in flames; no injuries were reported among spectators.
The South African Civil Aviation Authority and the Air Force's accident unit have launched investigations to determine the cause of the crash.