An aircraft burst into flames in the air during the WBCA Stars & Stripes Air Show Spectacular at Laredo International Airport, Texas on Sunday, seriously injuring the pilot. The fire started just before 1 p.m. when the engine of the plane caught fire while flying. The pilot made it back safely to the ground before the firefighters put out the flames.
It was reported by KGNS that there was a single aircraft in the accident. The pilot, who was in his 70s, sustained critical injuries to the face and head. He was first airlifted to Laredo Medical Center in critical condition and then later sent to San Antonio for further medical attention.
Laredo Fire Department spokesman Hernan Martinez gave information regarding the emergency landing. “The plane did have mechanical issues in the air and had to do an emergency landing,” he said. “The pilot did suffer injuries, facial and head, and he is going to be flown out to San Antonio by air. We have all units standing by for the protection of the pilots, and he will be taken to the hospital for further evaluation.”
Officials verified that no other people were aboard when the accident occurred. After the emergency landing, Laredo Police briefly shut down Jacaman Road and Bartlett Avenue, close to the airport, for safety reasons. The lanes were reopened shortly, and the air show continued.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) is leading the investigation into the accident, with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) also opening an inquiry.
This crash follows closely on the heels of a tragic plane crash in Georgia, in which at least two individuals perished shortly after takeoff.