The organisers of the West Coast Airshow have confirmed, with profound sadness, the death of James O’Connell, a highly skilled and respected South African test pilot, during a scheduled display at Saldanha Bay Airfield on Saturday the 22 of March.
Mr O’Connell was piloting the Impala Mark 1, a warbird with deep historical significance in South Africa. His display marked a particularly special moment in the airshow calendar, as it had been many years since the Impala had performed at an event of this nature.
The aircraft was being flown as part of the official airshow programme and was witnessed by thousands of spectators. According to multiple eyewitness accounts, the display appeared to be proceeding normally until one of the final manoeuvres.
Airshow commentator Brian Emmenis, who observed the flight in real-time, recounted:
“He went into the dirty configuration, he rolled the aircraft—the dirty configuration is when the undercarriage is extended. He turned the aircraft, the undercarriage was up. On coming out of it, one could clearly see that he was losing height. He went out towards the hangars—he was at that stage in a serious deep dive—and he went straight into the ground. There was no sign of an attempt to eject. Emergency services responded immediately, the crowd remained behind the barriers, totally stunned, and medical attention was handed to the crowd.”
The event’s emergency response plan was activated without delay. First responders were on site within moments, securing the area and ensuring the safety of all attendees. Fortunately, no spectators were injured.
The incident has been reported to the South African Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) and Air Show South Africa (ASSA). A full investigation is now underway. No further information has been confirmed at this stage pending the outcome of official findings.
As the aviation community mourns this tragic loss, the organisers have requested privacy and understanding during this difficult time. Further updates will be shared as official information becomes available.
The team at African Pilot magazine extended their condolences to Mr O’Connell’s family.
