Pilot Dies in Tragic Crash at South African Air Show
A pilot has tragically lost his life after his plane spiralled out of control and crashed during a performance at the West Coast Air Show in Saldanha, South Africa. The incident occurred on Saturday, approximately 70 miles (110 km) north of Cape Town.
Eyewitnesses and video footage captured the horrifying moment as the aircraft spun uncontrollably mid-air before plummeting to the ground. The crash occurred while the pilot, identified as James O'Connell, was performing a routine display.
In a heartfelt statement posted on social media, the organisers of the West Coast Air Show confirmed the fatality, expressing their deep sorrow. "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," the statement read.
O'Connell, who was well-known in the aviation community, had been performing a display meant to showcase the capabilities of the Impala Mark 1, a historic warplane that holds significant sentimental value for many South Africans. The aircraft's appearance at air shows had been a rare and much-anticipated event, adding to the poignancy of the moment.
The display was part of the official air show programme, with thousands of spectators in attendance. While the plane appeared to be under control throughout most of the manoeuvres, eyewitnesses reported that it suddenly lost altitude during one of the final moves, entering a steep dive before crashing.
The air show organisers and the aviation community are mourning the loss of O'Connell, who was known for his professionalism and skill in the cockpit.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Yahoo
26 minutes ago
- Yahoo
Terra Metals Inc. and Lunda Resources Confirm 96.5% Copper Recovery and Solar-Powered Green Production at Kalaba Project
CHARLOTTE, N.C. and LUSAKA, Zambia, June 09, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Terra Metals Inc., in partnership with its Zambian subsidiary Lunda Resources Ltd., is proud to announce a major metallurgical breakthrough at the Kalaba Copper Project in Northwestern Zambia. Independent testing conducted by Dr. Yotamu Hara of YCS Sustainable Solutions Ltd. confirms flotation recoveries exceeding 96.5%, with concentrate grades of 26.91% Cu—a remarkable result for oxide-dominant ore. Technical Highlights: 96.52% cumulative copper recovery using flotation (see p. 30 of Hara Report), with sulphide concentrates at 26.91% Cu and oxide concentrates at 4.31% Cu. Flotation made possible through advanced chemistry, particularly the use of CMC depressants to manage high talc content (up to 54%), previously considered a major processing barrier. The ore's upgrade potential allows for low-cost leaching via solvent extraction, positioning Kalaba among Africa's lowest-cost green copper producers. An NI 43-101-compliant resource estimate is expected to be released before the end of July 2025. A Model for Green Critical Minerals: Full environmental clearance has been granted by ZEMA (Zambia Environmental Management Agency). A 5 MW solar energy facility has been completed and approved, with plans to expand to 100 MW—enabling carbon-neutral production of copper and cobalt. Terra Metals and its partners will become Zambia's first large-scale producers of green critical metals, powered almost entirely by solar energy. Traditional & Community Support: Terra Metals acknowledges the tremendous support of His Royal Highness Senior Chief Sailunga and Chief Ntambu of the Lunda people. Their leadership and collaboration have played a vital role in advancing the Kalaba Project with integrity and respect for local communities. Regional Upside: In addition to Kalaba, the company holds a large-scale exploration license through Central Africa Renewable Energy, covering a prospective copper-cobalt zone immediately south of Ivanhoe's world-class Kamoa-Kakula Mine in the DRC Copperbelt. Chairman's Statement: 'This isn't just a technical success—it's a declaration that Zambia can lead in responsible, solar-powered production of the world's most critical minerals. Kalaba is proof that innovation, sustainability, and community partnership can deliver real value.'— Mumena Mushinge, Chairman, Terra Metals Inc. and Lunda Resources. Next Milestones: NI 43-101 Report expected before July 31, 2025 240TPH concentrator commissioning in September 2025 Solar expansion to 100 MW Phase 2 exploration and geophysics at DRC-bordering tenement ⸻ ABOUT TERRA METALS INC. Terra Metals Inc. is a Delaware-based mineral development company focused on securing high-impact, ESG- compliant critical mineral assets across Africa for delivery to U.S. and allied markets. MEDIA CONTACTS:Terra Metals IR@ +1 (980) 349-3883Website: Construction of 240 TPH Flotation Plant at Kalaba Mine A photo accompanying this announcement is available at:
Daily Mail
26 minutes ago
- Daily Mail
England to beat West Indies and both score 180+ runs in their final T20 international BOOSTED to 11/2 - as Harry Brook's side look to complete series clean sweep
England will be aiming to complete a series clean sweep when they face West Indies in their final T20 international at the Ageas Bowl on Tuesday. Harry Brook's side chased down 197 in Bristol on Sunday to wrap up a series victory after beating West Indies by 21 runs in Durham two days earlier. Both teams have strong batting line-ups, and we could be set for another high-scoring game to round off the series. Sky Bet are offering three Price Boosts, including England and West Indies to both score 180+ runs, which is now priced at 9/2. Jos Buttler, Harry Brook and Jacob Bethell to all score 2+ sixes has also been boosted to 12/1. Buttler has looked back to his best after being replaced by Brook as captain, and hit 96 in the first T20 match on Thursday. Bethell then smashed an eye-catching 26 off 10 balls on Sunday, with his knock including three sixes. England to win the match and both teams to score 180+ runs has been boosted to 11/2 from 9/2. Sky Bet have also boosted the odds for both teams to hit a six each in their first to overs, from 7/2 to 9/2. Sky Bet Price Boosts for England vs West Indies Jos Buttler, Harry Brook and Jacob Bethell to hit 2+ sixes each - WAS 10/1 NOW 12/1 Both teams to hit a six each in their first two overs - WAS 7/2 NOW 9/2 England to win the match and both teams to score 180+ runs WAS 9/2 NOW 11/2
Yahoo
26 minutes ago
- Yahoo
iDox.ai Launches Redaction Engine That Learns You: Personalized AI Now Available
AI-powered redaction software now adapts to document types, user behavior, and organization-specific needs with ongoing learning and customization features Fremont, California, June 09, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- has launched a significant enhancement to its document redaction tool platform, Redact, with the introduction of Personalized AI, a suite of features that allows redaction tools to intelligently adjust based on document type, redaction history, and user Logo The Personalized AI update addresses the growing demand for smarter and more adaptable document processing in industries handling sensitive information, including legal, healthcare, finance, and law enforcement. Rather than relying on static rules, Redact now learns over time, providing users with redaction tools that become increasingly accurate and tailored to their workflows. Key components of the release include: Document Type Recognition: The AI automatically identifies document categories—such as contracts, medical records, or police reports—and adjusts its logic to match relevant redaction standards. This includes context-aware entity detection, like patient identifiers in medical files or license numbers in law enforcement records. Adaptive Entity Recognition: The system identifies and redacts sensitive content based on prior user actions, learning from ongoing redaction behavior to improve future performance. Regulation-Aware Data Profiles: Now supports a broad range of sensitive information types—including PII, PHI, racial covenants, and key business and financial data—with built-in awareness of compliance standards like HIPAA, GDPR, and FOIA. Manual Edits and Overrides: Users retain full control with the ability to fine-tune or override AI suggestions through a real-time editing interface. Whitelisting Functionality: Organizations can preserve specific terms or phrases from redaction, such as job titles or internal codes, improving accuracy and consistency. User and Team Learning: The system evolves with each user and team's redaction patterns, allowing it to provide more precise, context-appropriate suggestions as it accumulates insights. 'Our mission with Personalized AI is to deliver smarter, more human-aware redaction,' said Jeremy Wei, Founder of 'It's about context, control, and continuously improving performance tailored to each organization's needs.' The Personalized AI capabilities are now available to all current users of Redact. This release strengthens position at the forefront of AI-driven redaction by uniting adaptive personalization with deep regulatory awareness, enabling organizations to safeguard sensitive data while keeping pace with changing compliance requirements. About Designed for compliance-intensive environments, leverages artificial intelligence to automate and optimize document workflows across industries, with a primary focus on protecting sensitive data through features like PDF redaction, data security, and extraction. CONTACT: Gregory Sallis media@ while retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error while retrieving data Error while retrieving data Error while retrieving data Error while retrieving data
