Fatal plane crash at Saldanha Airshow

24 March 2025 | SANews

James O’Connell, a highly qualified and respected test pilot, tragically died on Saturday (22 March 2025) when his Impala aircraft crashed in front of thousands of spectators at the West Coast Airshow in Saldanha.

No spectators were injured during the incident.

O’Connell was a test pilot in the air force for many years before joining the flight academy in Oudtshoorn in 2014 as a flight instructor and test pilot.

The cause of the crash is currently under investigation.

Pilot klled when an Impala Aircraft crashed at an airshow in Saldanahttps://t.co/fHaU3Wwmxt#ArriveAlive #PlaneCrash pic.twitter.com/M5xIOD2VMG

— Arrive Alive (@_ArriveAlive) March 23, 2025