A pilot was killed Sunday afternoon in Reno, Nevada, when a plane crashed during an air race.
Just prior to the disaster at the Reno Air Races, a video shared on social media showed numerous planes in flight with onlookers below. Smoke was captured on film emanating from the wreckage after the plane crashed.
Thursday evening, Fred Telling, chairman and chief executive officer of the Reno Air Racing Association, confirmed the pilot’s passing in a news conference.
“We can confirm that there was a deadly accident on outer pylon five during the third lap of the jet gold race today,” Telling added.
Telling said that the National Transportation Safety Board and Federal Aviation Administration will investigate.
.@RenoAirRaces collision during the #Reno Air Races golden jet competition.
— Ulises Gonzalez (@PelonMosk) September 18, 2022
The racing association later stated that “all race operations for 2022 have been suspended” and that all other jets that were in the air at the time landed safely and that no other pilots were injured.
The name of the deceased pilot was not disclosed. The type of jet involved in the collision could not be immediately established.
Sunday marked the conclusion of the STIHL National Championship Air Races, better known as the Reno Air Races, which were contested over four days. According to the racing association, 152 aircraft and 156 pilots participated in the event.