WESTERN CAPE — An Atlas Impala Mk.1 (MB-326M) jet, registration ZU-IMP, crashed today during the West Coast Air Show at Saldanha/Vredenburg Municipal Airport in Saldanha Bay, South Africa. The incident occurred shortly after 3:00 PM local time while the aircraft was performing a display in front of over 2,000 spectators.
The privately owned jet, a former South African Air Force (SAAF) aircraft, was piloted by a single individual who did not survive the crash. Video evidence shows the plane ascending, spinning mid-air, and then descending rapidly before impacting the ground and erupting in flames.
The air show, which began on March 21 and was scheduled to run through March 22, featured various aerial performances, including aerobatics and formation flying.
The Impala Mk.1 involved in the crash was equipped with a Martin-Baker ejection seat, a standard feature in this model, though no ejection was observed during the incident.
West Coast Medical Rescue arrived within two minutes of the crash, finding the wreckage fully engulfed in flames. The event was halted following the accident.
Weather conditions at the coastal location were noted as challenging, with potential for sea fog and wind gusts, though specific conditions at the time of the crash remain unconfirmed.
The aircraft, built by Aermacchi and used by the SAAF until the early 1990s, was part of a civilian-operated fleet by 2025. An investigation into the cause of the crash is expected to follow, with initial speculation focusing on mechanical failure or the constraints of low-altitude maneuvering.
Further details are pending official reports.
