Reno Nevada: Three killed and 50 injured at U.S. air race as World War II fighter plane crashes into spectators

 

Reno Nevada: Three killed and 50 injured at U.S. air race as World War II fighter plane crashes into spectators,

• Horror scene of body parts and debris strewn across Nevada airfield
  
• Vintage plane was flown by veteran Hollywood stunt pilot
• Victims taken to three hospitals by emergency crews and in private vehicles
  
• 15 in critical condition, 13 serious with potentially life-threatening injuries
  
• Air race safety concerns raised after four pilots killed in 2007 and 2008

A vintage World War II fighter plane flown by a veteran Hollywood stunt pilot plunged into spectators during an air race killing three people and injuring more than 50 spectators. The P-51 Mustang, flown by 74-year-old Jimmy Leeward, spiralled out of control without warning and disintegrated on impact as it nosedived into a VIP area.

Bloodied bodies were spread near the grandstand as other spectators tended to the victims and ambulances rushed to the scene at the National Championship Air Races in Reno, Nevada.

The cause of yesterday’s crash, in front of an estimated 75,000 spectators at 4.30pm local time (12.30am today BST), was not immediately known. But an event official said there were indications mechanical problems were involved.

Maureen Higgins of Alabama, who has been coming to the show for 16 years, said the pilot was on his third lap when he lost control.
She was sitting about 30yds away from the crash and watched in horror as the man in front of her started bleeding after a piece of debris hit him in the head.

‘I saw body parts and gore like you wouldn’t believe it. I’m talking an arm, a leg,’ Ms Higgins said. ‘ I am not kidding you. It was gore. Unbelievable gore.’

Mr Leeward from Ocala, Florida, who flew the P-51 Mustang named the Galloping Ghost, was a well-known racing pilot. He had flown more than 120 races and was a stunt pilot for numerous movies, including Amelia and Cloud Dancer

The identities of the two others who died are still unknown while a total of 56 people are being treated in three hospitals near the crash scene.


Stephanie Kruse, a spokesman for the Regional Emergency Medical Service Authority, said 15 of the injured were considered in critical condition, 13 were serious with potentially life-threatening injuries and 28 were non-serious.


‘This is a very large incident, probably one of the largest this community has seen in decades,’ Ms Kruse said. ‘The community is pulling together to try to deal with the scope of it. The hospitals have certainly geared up and staffed up to deal with it.’

The P-51 Mustang crashed into a VIP box-seat area in front of the grandstand. Mike Houghton, president and CEO of Reno Air Races said Mr Leeward appeared to have ‘lost control of the aircraft.’

There appeared to be a ‘problem with the aircraft that caused it to go out of control,’ he told a news conference. Witnesses claims they heard a popping sound moments before the plane started to nosedive.
Tim Linville, 48, from Reno, said the pilot appeared to lose partial control off the plane when he veered off course and flew near where he was standing with his two daughters.


He said: ‘I told the girls to run and the pilot pulled the plane straight up, but he couldn’t do anything else with it. That’s when it nosedived right into the box seats.’

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