Saldanha Bay, South Africa – Tragedy struck the West Coast Air Show in Saldanha on Saturday afternoon, as veteran pilot James O’Connell, a decorated former member of the South African Air Force, lost his life when his Impala Mk I aircraft crashed during a performance. The horrific incident, which unfolded before the eyes of thousands of spectators, has brought the air show to an abrupt and sorrowful end.
The crash occurred at approximately 3 PM on Saturday, 22nd March 2025, during O’Connell's routine display, which was intended to showcase the capabilities of the Impala Mark 1 – a warbird cherished for its historical significance in South Africa. The air show, which commenced on Friday, March 21st, was taking place at the Saldanha/Vredenburg Airport, attracting aviation enthusiasts from across the country.
Eyewitness accounts suggest that the aircraft appeared to be under control for the majority of the display. However, during one of the final manoeuvres, the Impala Mk I experienced a sudden and catastrophic loss of altitude, plunging into a steep dive before impacting the ground. The impact resulted in a large explosion and billows of black smoke, signalling the severity of the accident to the stunned crowd.
Footage shared on social media captured the harrowing moments leading up to the crash, showing the Impala Mk I ascending before spinning mid-air and plummeting towards the ground. The aircraft then erupted into flames upon impact, leaving spectators in shock and disbelief.
Elowayne Gouws, the director of West Coast Medical Rescue, confirmed the tragic details of the incident. "The Impala jet hit the ground," Gouws stated. "The pilot died on impact. West Coast Medical Rescue arrived within two minutes and found the wreckage engulfed in flames."
Airshow commentator Brian Emmenis, who witnessed the event unfold, provided a detailed account of the final moments. "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," Emmenis explained. "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."
Organisers of the West Coast Airshow have since identified the pilot as James O’Connell, a highly respected test pilot with an illustrious career spanning four decades with the SA Air Force. On LinkedIn, O'Connell is listed as a test pilot for the Test Flying Academy of South Africa.
The air show's organisers expressed their profound sadness in a statement: "It is with profound sadness that the organisers of the West Coast Airshow confirm a fatal accident involving James O’Connell, a highly skilled and respected test pilot from South Africa."
They further elaborated on the significance of O'Connell's performance: "Mr 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. It was especially a huge moment because the Impala has not been seen performing at air shows for many years."
The West Coast Air Show described O’Connell as a decorated retired officer of the South African Air Force, boasting an impressive record of over 4,000 hours flying rotary-wing aircraft and 1,600 hours on fixed-wing crafts.
According to an advertisement for the airshow, O’Connell was an "aviation legend with over 36 years of flying experience, including 25 dedicated to experimental flight testing." His achievements included leading testing for the South African Air Force A109 LUH helicopter and spearheading the Oryx helicopter upgrade. O’Connell also possessed "unique experience in arctic and Antarctic operations" and served as the Chief Flight Instructor for the Test Flying Academy of South Africa.
The organisers explained the challenges they faced in confirming the daily lineup due to the coastal location and unpredictable weather conditions. "Rickus Erasmus and his team from Air Show South Africa (ASSA) made the initial decision on the flight program at 7am during the mandatory pilot safety briefing," they stated. "The program was adjusted throughout the day based on weather changes, aircraft performance, and the safety of pilots and spectators."
One spectator, Nolitha Adams, who attended the event to support a pilot friend, told News24 that many believed Saturday's show had been cancelled due to poor weather conditions. "The clouds were too low, and we were told the event was off," Adams said. "The pilot who died… took off shortly after 14:00. Moments later, his aircraft went down, leaving everyone in shock." Adams added that there had been no signs of the pilot attempting to eject from the plane.
In the wake of the tragedy, the South African Civil Aviation Authority (SACAA) and Air Show South Africa (ASSA) were immediately notified, and a full investigation is underway.
The SACAA confirmed that its Accident and Incident Investigations Division (AIID) is working closely with event safety officers to gather preliminary information. A preliminary report is expected to be published on the SACAA website within 30 days of the accident.
Police spokesperson Warrant Officer Joseph Swartbooi confirmed that investigations are ongoing. "Saldanha police responded to a complaint this afternoon," Swartbooi said. "Upon arrival at an airstrip, officers found the body of a man believed to be the pilot. He was declared dead on the scene by medical personnel."
The organisers of the airshow extended their deepest sympathies to O'Connell's family, loved ones, and all those affected by the tragic event. "Our thoughts and deepest sympathies are with James’s family, loved ones, and everyone affected by this very tragic event," they said.
