Renowned pilot James O’Connell.
Image: Supplied
Renowned pilot James O’Connell tragically lost his life when the Impala Mark 1 he was flying crashed in front of horrified spectators at the Saldanha Air Show.
With an illustrious 36-year aviation career—including 25 years dedicated to experimental flight testing—O’Connell was a highly respected figure in the industry.
Clocking over 4,000 hours on rotary-wing aircraft and 1,600+ hours on fixed-wing aircraft, his expertise was instrumental in testing the South African Air Force A109 LUH helicopter and leading the Oryx helicopter upgrade.
The Saldanha Air show came to an abrupt tragic end as an Impala jet crashed and burst into flames, resulting in the death of seasoned pilot James O’Connell,
Image: Ian Landsberg/ Independent Media
His extensive experience in Arctic and Antarctic operations further set him apart as an aviation pioneer.
A retired senior officer of the South African Air Force, O’Connell remained deeply involved in aviation, serving as a trusted advisor on flight test matters and holding key positions in aviation associations.
The Impala Mark 1
Image: Port Elizabeth SAAF Museum
He was also the Chief Flight Instructor at the Test Flying Academy of South Africa.
Airshow commentator Brian Emmenis, who witnessed the crash firsthand, described the chilling moment:
"He went into the dirty configuration, rolled the aircraft… then entered a deep dive and crashed straight into the ground. There was no indication of an ejection attempt. The crowd stood behind the barriers, completely stunned."
Videos of the tragic incident quickly went viral on social media, showing the Impala executing a series of manoeuvres as part of the official airshow programme before the devastating crash.
Authorities, including the Aeronautical Society of South Africa (ASSA) and the Civil Aviation Authority (CAA), have launched a full investigation into the accident.
IOL