A pilot and a wing-walker died when a stunt plane crashed and erupted in flames during an air show in Ohio on Saturday.
Graphic footage from local television channel WDTN showed a biplane flying upside-down close to the ground with a person strapped to the lower wing. The aircraft suddenly twisted and nose-dived, crashing into a grassy area. It bounced, broke apart and was immediately engulfed by a fireball.
The incident took place at around 1pm local time, at the Vectren Dayton Air Show at Dayton International Airport. The wing-walker’s name was reported by local media as Jane Wicker. According to the air show’s official site, her act involved “climbing, walking, and hanging all over her beautiful 450 HP Stearman aircraft … with no safety line and no parachute”.
A statement on the show’s website said: “The accident was isolated and no other injuries were reported. FAA [Federal Aviation Administration] and other officials are on site investigating the incident. Air show officials have announced that the Saturday show flying operations have been cancelled and normal operations will resume on Sunday.”
Six years ago a stunt pilot, Jim LeRoy, was killed at the Dayton Air Show when his plane crashed and caught fire. Last year’s show attracted 47,000 spectators, according to the Dayton Daily News.
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