‘Highly Respected’ Aerobatic Pilot Killed After 2 Planes Collide in Mid-Air

An experienced aerobatic pilot has died in Australia after the small plane he was flying was involved in a mid-air collision with another aircraft.

Police in New South Wales said emergency services were called to the scene near Napperfield Airfield, a private airport in the Sydney suburb of Wedderburn, at around 12:15 p.m. local time on Sunday, Nov. 30.

According to authorities, two light aircraft collided while in flight, and one of the planes went down in a nearby rural area.

“Responding emergency services located the body of the pilot, believed to be the sole occupant of the aircraft,” police said in a statement. “The other plane landed safely at the airfield, and the pilot was uninjured.”

Local outlets including 9News and the Daily Mail identified the deceased pilot as aerobatic flyer Eddie Seve.

Seve, who founded the Freedom Formation Display Team — described on the group’s social media pages as Australia’s largest civilian formation team — was reportedly flying in a four-aircraft formation when his plane struck another, the Daily Mail reported.

Flight tracking data cited by the outlets indicated that Seve’s amateur-built Van’s Aircraft RV-7 departed the airfield shortly after 11:40 a.m. and headed east, briefly flying over the ocean before turning back toward the airport. The crash occurred when the RV-7 collided with another RV-7, a two-seat, single-engine plane.

A witness who spoke with The Daily Telegraph said Seve’s aircraft was extensively damaged in the collision, while the other plane “only lost a wheel.”

“The other plane got chopped with the prop, and then the fuselage parted, and it came down,” the witness recalled, noting how closely the planes had been flying before impact. “It sounded like someone landed on my hangar — it was so loud.”

“They were doing formation, they were so close together,” he added. “One guy pulled away first, and the other guy followed, and then it happened.”

The second aircraft was able to return to the airport and land safely, and its pilot was not injured.

The Daily Telegraph reported that Seve, who lived in Sydney’s Hills District, was a highly regarded and seasoned pilot who had recently performed with his aerobatic team at the Gold Coast Airshow.

Following the incident, the Temora Flyers issued a statement acknowledging “the tragic loss of a pilot involved in an aircraft accident earlier today.”

“The pilot who passed was a highly respected member of the formation team and a strong supporter of youth in aviation. Their contribution to inspiring young people and promoting safe, professional flying will not be forgotten,” the organization wrote in a Facebook post.

“Temora Flyers Inc. extends our heartfelt condolences to the pilot’s family, friends, and all who are grieving during this difficult time,” the statement continued.

Police confirmed that the Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) has launched an investigation into the crash.

“Investigators will also interview the other pilots involved in the formation flight, as well as other witnesses and involved parties,” the ATSB told 7News.