An Aero L-29 Delfin jet crashed and burst into flames killing a pilot during the Reno Air Racing event in Nevada, the United States.
The fatal accident happened on late September 18, 2022. The pilot of the Aero L-29 Delfin was flying the third lap of the Jet Gold Race, which was supposed to be the final six-lap race of the event.
The horrific single-engine plane crash was captured in the live stream on YouTube. The video showed how the jet, which was originally built for military training purposes, hit the ground and bounced several times before exploding.
However, the footage was later removed by the Reno Air Racing Association, the organizer of the event.
The race was stopped immediately after the catastrophic crash.
“We can confirm that during the Jet Gold Race on the third lap there was a fatal incident today. […] All other pilots landed safely,” the Reno Air Racing Association wrote in a social media post. “We express our deepest sympathies to the pilot’s family and friends as well as racers and race fans who make up our September family.”
No other participants were involved in the accident.
The annual Reno Air Racing is held every September at Reno-Stead Airport in Nevada. The event usually features demonstrations by airshow pilots, races in seven classes as well as a large static display of military and civil aircraft.
According to the association, the 2022 air race involved a total of 156 pilots and 152 planes. The event took place between September 14 and September 18, 20222.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) have initiated the crash investigation.
