Organisers of the West Coast Airshow confirmed that a highly skilled and respected test pilot from South Africa James O’Connell died when he piloted the Impala Mark 1 aircraft during a display on Saturday in Saldanha.
O’Connell was performing a routine display intended to demonstrate the capabilities of the Impala Mark 1—a beloved warbird with deep historical significance for many South Africans.
The South African Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) and Air Show South Africa (ASSA) were notified immediately, and a full investigation is currently underway.
At this stage, no further details can be confirmed until the investigation is concluded.
Videos of the tragic crash trended on social media. In the clips, the Impala can be seen performing the manoeuvres part of the official airshow program, until the shocking crash.
The event’s emergency response plan was activated instantly. First responders were on the scene within moments, and the area was immediately secured to ensure the safety of all attendees. No spectators were injured during the incident.
Despite the aircraft appearing stable through most of the performance, a sudden loss of altitude during the final manoeuvres led to a devastating crash.
Airshow commentator Brian Emmenis, who witnessed the incident up close, shared: “He went into the dirty configuration, he rolled the aircraft… he was in a serious deep dive and went straight into the ground. There was no sign of any attempt to ejection. The crowd remained behind the barriers, totally stunned.”
An outpouring amount of tributes have poured in for O'Connell and organisers extended their deepest condolences to Mr. O’Connell’s family, friends, and aviation colleagues
"The organisers want to express their deep gratitude to their emergency teams and service providers for their swift and professional response, and we ask for privacy and understanding as the aviation community comes to terms with this tragic loss."
IOL