Veteran pilot dies after vintage combat jet crashes at South African air show  

A highly skilled and respected veteran test pilot died after the vintage combat jet he was flying at an air show in South Africa suddenly lost control and impacted the ground on Saturday, March 22, 2025. The pilot, named James O’Connell died at the scene as the jet burst into flames as it struck the ground at the West Coast Airshow which was being held at Saldanha Municipal Airport (SDB) located 70 miles north of Cape Town in the southwest of the country and

Video footage taken at the scene shows the aircraft lining up for a final flypast along the runway at the conclusion of its flying display. At around the midpoint down the runway, the aircraft appears to pitch its nose slightly upwards before a marked wing drop on its left side sends the aircraft into a dive. As the aircraft passes the inverted position and rolls through 360 degrees, the pilot appears to temporarily regain some control before the aircraft impacts the ground behind a hanger with the crash scene hidden from the crowd of spectators. A black plume of smoke can then be seen rising from behind the hangar.

Note: The video below features images that some readers may find distressing.

The aircraft’s landing gear can be seen to be down during the sequence with there also being no obvious signs that the pilot attempted to eject from the aircraft as it lost control.

As reported by Sowetan Live news outlet, South African airshow commentator Brian Emmenis, who witnessed the event in real-time, said: “He went into the dirty configuration and 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, but the crowd remained behind the barriers, totally stunned.”

According to a statement issued by the airshow organizers, “O’Connell was performing a routine display intended to demonstrate the capabilities of the Impala Mark One, a beloved warbird with deep historical significance for many South Africans. It was especially a huge moment because the Impala had not been seen performing at air shows for many years. Eyewitness accounts report that the aircraft appeared to be under control during most of the display. However, during one of the final maneuvers, the aircraft experienced a sudden loss of altitude and entered a steep dive before making contact with the ground.”

Bob Adams / Wikimedia CommonsThe South African Civil Aviation Authority (SACAA) and Air Show South Africa (ASSA) were notified immediately following the accident and a full investigation is already underway to determine the possible cause of the loss of control and the subsequent fatal crash. The SACAA said its Accident and Incident Investigations Division (AIID) was actively working with the event safety officers to collate preliminary information, and that a preliminary report into the accident would be published 30 days from the date it occurred.

Pilot James O’Connell was a well-respected and highly experienced test pilot having had an accomplished 40-year career serving with the South African Air Force. He was also a test pilot for the Test Flying Academy of South Africa (TFASA), including 25 years of flying dedicated to experimental flight testing. With over 4000 flying hours on rotary wing and over 1600 hours on fixed-wing aircraft, O’Connell’s achievements included leading testing for the South African Air Force A109 LUH helicopter fleet and spearheading the Oryx helicopter upgrade, according to an air show statement.

In other career achievements, O’Connell had gained experience in Arctic and Antarctic operations, advised on flight test matters, and held several esteemed positions in aviation associations. At the time of the accident, he served as the Chief Flight Instructor for the TFASA.

Bob Adams / Wikimedia CommonsThe Impala Mark One in which O’Connell was performing was designed by the Italian aircraft company Aermacchi in 1954 and was originally designated as the MB-326. The type first flew in December 1957. Conventional in appearance, the MB-326 featured a single Bristol-Siddeley Viper turbojet engine, a low, straight wing, and could also accommodate two crew members in a two-seat tandem configuration.

The SAAF acquired a total of 151 MB-326M aircraft which became known locally as the Impala Mark One. Approximately 16 of these were either manufactured in Italy or were assembled in SA from Italian kits, starting in 1966, with the balance of the 151 aircraft acquired built locally in South Africa by Atlas Aircraft Corporation. In terms of performance, The Impala was capable of speeds of up to 478 mph (770 kph) and had a range of 1,035 miles (1,665km).  

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