Pilot 'went down with plane'

2009-11-14 22:33

Smoke billows from the scene where a Lightning jet went down during an air show at Bredasdorp, killing the pilot. (Carmen Lorraine Photography)

Johannesburg - A pilot was killed when his fighter jet crashed shortly before he was to have taken part in an air show at Bredasdorp on Saturday.

Dave Stock's historic English Electric Lightning jet apparently had developed a mechanical problem. 

"He was in performance when he had a technical problem," said Mike Head, owner of Thunder City.

"The pilot was killed in the crash, but no one on the ground was hurt," he added.

Reuters on Saturday afternoon quoted Lieutenant Colonel Marius van den Heever of the Overberg Air Force Base as saying the aircraft went down as it was busy readying itself for the display.

"Unfortunately the civilian pilot died in the crash. All indications are he went down with the plane."

Thunder City's website says the fighter jet is capable of reaching Mach 2.2, and says Thunder City operates the last two serviceable twin-engined two-seater Lightnings in the world. The jet was part of a fleet belonging to Cape Town's Thunder City that offers civilians flights in ex-military jets.

The first Lightning flew in 1957, and the Britain's Royal Air Force retired the plane in 1988.

- AFP