"Mass casualty situation" at air race crash in Reno

P-51 crashed right into the front of the box seats. I have seen the number of dead at 12 so far, but that is not confirmed. There are videos out there but they aren't very good.

http://www.breitbart.com/article.php?id=D9PPUI001&show_article=1

 

Condolences pouring on on the pilot's FB page. Unsurprisingly, the first one I saw said, "You were doing what you so dearly loved."

http://www.facebook.com/JimmyLeeward

 

The pilot's aircraft is the second one in this picture:

http://www.airrace.org/at_the_races/index.php

 

I feel sick. Thankfully my friends/co-workers out there are OK.

Back story on the aircraft ... this published a few months ago: http://www.sportaviationonline.org/sportaviation/201105?pg=38#pg36

 

Just saw that the pilot was 80 years old. Should an 80-year-old really be flying an airplane going 600 mph over a crowd?

 

Just actually read he was 74. Still up there for this kind of thing.

 

One of the best pilots in the world and his medicals are all in line.
Age had nothing to do with this.

Witnesses are saying he likely saved hundreds of lives by somehow maneuvering the P-51 back toward the tarmac and away from the grandstand.

 

... so I should forgo the joke about his turn signal being on for the last three laps?

 

Considering the possible number of dead? Yes.

 

Sully was 58 when he landed the plane in the Hudson. I'd think his age and experience were quite helpful there.

Unless the pilot didn't have his faculties, there's no real reason to blame his age.

 

Let's just jump straight to the rash conclusions, shall we?