UPDATE 4 -- Plane crashes during Reno, Nevada air show, killing at least 2

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UPDATE 4 -- Plane crashes during Reno, Nevada air show, killing at least 2

2011-09-17 09:38:45 GMT+7 (ICT)

RENO (BNO NEWS) -- At least two people were killed on late Friday afternoon when a World War II aircraft crashed during the Reno Air Races at Reno-Stead Airport in Nevada, officials said. At least 47 people have been injured.

The accident happened at around 4.30 p.m. local time when a P-51D Mustang known as The Galloping Ghost, being flown by 80-year-old Jimmy Leeward, crashed into a seating area during the air race.

"The aircraft did not catch fire but there was a wide debris field following the crash," said Ian Gregor, a spokesman for the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA). "Multiple FAA inspectors were observing the air race at the time of the crash."

Stephanie Kruse, a spokeswoman for the Regional Emergency Medical Services Authority (REMSA), said its ambulances transported a total of 40 people to area hospitals. Several others were transported by ambulances from other agencies.

Dan Davis, a spokesman for Renown Regional Medical Center, confirmed the hospital received a total of 24 patients. Two of those injured were pronounced dead at the center, while nine have been critically injured. Eleven people are in a fair condition at Renown.

Saint Mary's Hospital received at least 4 critical, 7 serious, and 11 non-serious patients. Northern Nevada Medical Center received at least 2 seriously injured patients and 1 person with non-serious injuries, bringing the total number of people injured to 47.

"It's just like a massacre. It's like a bomb went off," Dr. Gerald Lent, who witnessed the crash, told the Reno Gazette-Journal. "There are people lying all over the runway. One guy was cut in half. There's blood everywhere. There's arms and legs."

Officials said the well-known racing pilot was killed, but it was not immediately known if Leeward was among the two confirmed fatalities at Renown or if he is a third fatality. The 2011 National Championship Air Races, which began on Wednesday and were scheduled to conclude on Sunday, were immediately canceled after the accident.

Nevada Governor Brian Sandoval assured Reno Mayor Bob Cashell and local law enforcement that all necessary state resources are at their disposal. "My family and I extend our thoughts and prayers to the victims and their families, and I know every member of the Nevada family is thinking tonight of those we have lost and those we cherish," he said.

U.S. Senator Harry Reid from Nevada also said he was 'deeply saddened' upon hearing news about the accident. "My thoughts are with the families of those who have lost their lives and with those who were wounded in this horrific tragedy," he said in a statement. "I am so grateful to our first responders for their swift action and will continue to monitor the situation in Reno as it develops."

According to the website of the Leeward Air Ranch Racing Team, which is owned by Leeward, The Galloping Ghost was one of 900 P-51-15-NA type Mustangs produced by North American Aviation (NAA) during World War II. It was originally delivered to the Army Air Forces (AAF) in December 1944 and later was assigned to the Third Air Force before being declared surplus in October 1945 and put in storage at Walnut Ridge, Arkansas.

Previous owners Bruce Raymond and Steve Beville acquired the plane which was involved in Friday's crash for $3,500 in 1946 for the sole purpose of performing in National Air Races. The aircraft was granted the use of the race number "77" by the National Aeronautics Association and was named The Galloping Ghost in honor of University of Illinois and Chicago Bears football star Harold "Red" Grange.

-- © BNO News All rights reserved 2011-09-17

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Plane crashes during Reno, Nevada air show, mass casualties reported

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