A race plane has crashed into the box seats at the Reno Air Races, the Reno Gazette Herald is reporting: There were 30 serious and 30 intermediate injuries, Reno Fire Chief Michael Hernandez said.Tara Trovato, spokeswoman for the Reno National Championship Air Races, confirms an aircraft crashed into the box seats at the races. She said it did not go into the grandstands.
"It did crash and it did go into the box seats," Trovato said. She could provide no additional details.
A P51 Mustang crashed in front of the grandstands at the Reno National Air Races at around 4 p.m.
Witnesss at the scene said the plane involved in the crash was Galloping Ghost, No. 177. That plane is piloted by Jimmy Leeward, a real estate developer from Ocala, Fla.
His condition is unknown at this time.
The extent of injuries is unknown, however multiple ambulances were dispatched to the Stead Airport. The plane is entered in the Unlimited class, which include World War II vintage aircraft.
Since 1964 there have been 19 fatalities at the Air Races, now in their 48th year.
http://www.rgj.com/article/20110916/EVENTS05/110916036/At-least-30-serious-injuries-involved-Reno-Air-Races-crash?odyssey=modbreakingtextFRONTPAGE
If no one was killed in this crash, it will be an absolute miracle.
I will keep updating this developing story.
Update: From Kolo TV: Unlimited plane has crashed at the Reno Air Races just after 4 p.m. Friday, hitting people seated in the box seats in the grandstand.
According to witnesses pilot Jimmy Leeword was flying the Galloping Ghost, that went down soon after take-off during the beginning of the Unlimited race.
The Unlimited plane slid into the grandstand, box seats injurying an unknown number of spectators. Reno-Stead airport authorities are asking everyone to go home.
All planes are grounded.
http://www.kolotv.com/home/headlines/Plane_Crash_Reported_at_Reno_Air_Races_129995508.html
Update: Fox 5 News Las Vegas just reported that 12 people have been killed at the race.
Reno Air Race web site: http://www.airrace.org/
From Kolo: Multiple fatalities at the Reno Air Races after an Unlimited plane crashed into the grandstand soon after take-off.
Unlimited plane has crashed at the Reno Air Races just after 4 p.m. that has killed 12 people and injured at least 30 Friday, hitting people seated in the box seats in the grandstand.
http://www.kolotv.com/home/headlines/Reports_of_12_Dead_and_As_Many_as_30_Injured_at_Reno_Air_Races_129997833.html
From Fox News: An airplane crashed Friday at an air race here, causing what one event official described as a "mass-casualty situation," as local media reports dozens injured.
The plane plunged into the stands, and video of the crash showed a horrific scene of bodies and wreckage at the front of the stands.
Mike Draper, a spokesman for the air races, told The Associated Press that Jimmy Leeward was the pilot of the P-51 Mustang that crashed into the box seat area at the front of the grandstand about 4:30 p.m.
He said he did not have any information on the number of injured, but KOLO cited fire department sources saying about 60 people were injured, including about 30 in critical condition.
Read more: http://www.foxnews.com/us/2011/09/16/plane-crashes-at-nevada-air-race/#ixzz1YALl2Wbg
Latest update from the RGH: A plane plunged into the stands Friday at an air race event in Reno in what an official described as a “mass casualty situation.”
It wasn’t immediately known how many people were killed, but a medical official said more than 75 people were injured.
Stephanie Kruse, a spokeswoman for the Regional Emergency Medical Service Authority, said 25 people were critically injured and another 25 people were seriously injured in the crash. The P-51 Mustang plunged into the crashed into the box seat area at the front of the grandstand at the National Championship Air Races at about 4:30 p.m., said Mike Draper, a spokesman for the event.
Draper identified the pilot as Jimmy Leeward.
Jeff Martinez, a KRNV weatherman, was just outside the air race grounds at the time of the crash. He said he saw the plane veer to the right and then “it just augered straight into the ground.”
“You saw pieces and parts going everywhere,” he said. “Everyone is in disbelief.”
The National Championship Air Races draws thousands of people every year in September to watch various military and civilian planes race.
Update from KTNV Las Vegas: The air races have been cancelled for the rest of the weekend and NV Gov. Brian Sandoval will hold a press conference soon. This was free admission day at the races.
Pilot's facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/JimmyLeeward
KOLO TV, Reno is saying that Renown Hospital, the Reno rauma center can expect up to 100 patients: Multiple fatalities at the Reno Air Races after an Unlimited plane crashed into the box seats directly infront of the master of ceromony soon after take-off.
According to the Director of Communications at Renown, Kathy Carter, they are under 'code triage' which means extra available personnel will be called in and extra beds will be made available.
Renown has been told to expect 80-100 injured. Right now 6 have been received but the severity of their injuries is unknown at this time.
http://www.kolotv.com/home/headlines/Renown_Told_to_Expect_as_Many_as_100_Injured_129998428.html
From Ocala Fl.com, hometown of the pilot: This is a very large incident, probably one of the largest this community has seen in decades,” Kruse told The Associated Press. “The community is pulling together to try to deal with the scope of it. The hospitals have certainly geared up and staffed up to deal with it.”
The P-51 Mustang crashed into a box seat area at the front of the grandstand at about 4:30 p.m., race spokesman Mike Draper said.
KRNV-TV weatherman Jeff Martinez, who was just outside the air race grounds at the time, said the plane veered to the right and then “it just augered straight into the ground.”
“You saw pieces and parts going everywhere,” he said. “Everyone is in disbelief.”
Another witness, Ronald Sargis, said he was sitting in the box seat area near the finish line when the crash occurred.
“We could see the plane coming around the far turn — it was in trouble,” Sargis told KCRA-TV in Sacramento. “About six or seven boxes down from us, it impacted into the front row.”
He said the pilot seemed to do everything he could to avoid crashing into the crowd. Response teams immediately went to work, Sargis said.
"They put out a call for any medically trained or police trained personnel to come and help. Within about two minutes the ambulance crews were loading people up and transporting them away.”
After the crash Sargis went up a few rows into the grandstand to view the downed plane.
“It appeared to be just pulverized,” he said.
Draper identified the pilot of the P-51 Mustang as Jimmy Leeward of Ocala, Fla.
Leeward is the owner of the Leeward Air Ranch Racing Team and is a well-known racing pilot. His website says he has flown more than 120 races and served as a stunt pilot for numerous movies, including “Amelia” and “Cloud Dancer.”
In an interview with the Ocala (Fla.) Star-Banner last year, he described how he has flown 250 types of planes and has a particular fondness for the P-51.
“They're more fun. More speed, more challenge. Speed, speed and more speed,” he said.
http://www.ocala.com/article/20110916/WIRE/110919736/1412?Title=Ocalan-s-plane-crashes-at-air-show--scores-injured
Pilot's facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/JimmyLeeward
KOLO TV, Reno is saying that Renown Hospital, the Reno rauma center can expect up to 100 patients: Multiple fatalities at the Reno Air Races after an Unlimited plane crashed into the box seats directly infront of the master of ceromony soon after take-off.
According to the Director of Communications at Renown, Kathy Carter, they are under 'code triage' which means extra available personnel will be called in and extra beds will be made available.
Renown has been told to expect 80-100 injured. Right now 6 have been received but the severity of their injuries is unknown at this time.
http://www.kolotv.com/home/headlines/Renown_Told_to_Expect_as_Many_as_100_Injured_129998428.html
From Ocala Fl.com, hometown of the pilot: This is a very large incident, probably one of the largest this community has seen in decades,” Kruse told The Associated Press. “The community is pulling together to try to deal with the scope of it. The hospitals have certainly geared up and staffed up to deal with it.”
The P-51 Mustang crashed into a box seat area at the front of the grandstand at about 4:30 p.m., race spokesman Mike Draper said.
KRNV-TV weatherman Jeff Martinez, who was just outside the air race grounds at the time, said the plane veered to the right and then “it just augered straight into the ground.”
“You saw pieces and parts going everywhere,” he said. “Everyone is in disbelief.”
Another witness, Ronald Sargis, said he was sitting in the box seat area near the finish line when the crash occurred.
“We could see the plane coming around the far turn — it was in trouble,” Sargis told KCRA-TV in Sacramento. “About six or seven boxes down from us, it impacted into the front row.”
He said the pilot seemed to do everything he could to avoid crashing into the crowd. Response teams immediately went to work, Sargis said.
"They put out a call for any medically trained or police trained personnel to come and help. Within about two minutes the ambulance crews were loading people up and transporting them away.”
After the crash Sargis went up a few rows into the grandstand to view the downed plane.
“It appeared to be just pulverized,” he said.
Draper identified the pilot of the P-51 Mustang as Jimmy Leeward of Ocala, Fla.
Leeward is the owner of the Leeward Air Ranch Racing Team and is a well-known racing pilot. His website says he has flown more than 120 races and served as a stunt pilot for numerous movies, including “Amelia” and “Cloud Dancer.”
In an interview with the Ocala (Fla.) Star-Banner last year, he described how he has flown 250 types of planes and has a particular fondness for the P-51.
“They're more fun. More speed, more challenge. Speed, speed and more speed,” he said.
http://www.ocala.com/article/20110916/WIRE/110919736/1412?Title=Ocalan-s-plane-crashes-at-air-show--scores-injured
More from the RGH: Marshall Carter was working on some fuel tanks nearby said he saw the plane pull up, "and it looked like he had major mechanical malfunction, like the controls failed."
Carter said the plane was about 100 feet off the ground and was rolling over at that point. It appeared he purposely pulled back on the stick so the plane went into the ground, instead of the stands, saving hundreds of lives.
Greg Erny, 57, who was sitting in the VIP section, said the plane disintegrated as its pieces flew into the crowd.
"It was the most sickening thing I've ever seen just watching the plane, there was no plane left," he said.
If you live within a couple hundred mile of Reno, they are going to need blood desperately, so, please give blood if you live within a couple hundred of miles of the Reno area. All hospital triage personnel have been called in. There are three hospitals in Reno and 1 trauma center, per Channel 13, Las Vegas.
Carter said the plane was about 100 feet off the ground and was rolling over at that point. It appeared he purposely pulled back on the stick so the plane went into the ground, instead of the stands, saving hundreds of lives.
Greg Erny, 57, who was sitting in the VIP section, said the plane disintegrated as its pieces flew into the crowd.
"It was the most sickening thing I've ever seen just watching the plane, there was no plane left," he said.
If you live within a couple hundred mile of Reno, they are going to need blood desperately, so, please give blood if you live within a couple hundred of miles of the Reno area. All hospital triage personnel have been called in. There are three hospitals in Reno and 1 trauma center, per Channel 13, Las Vegas.
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