A PILOT is fighting for his life after dramatically crashing his plane in front of terrified onlookers at an airshow in Australia.
During a loop manoeuvre at the Avalon Airshow in Victoria, one of the members of the Sky Aces Formation Aerobatic Team crashed their aircraft into the ground.
The pilot lost control of the plane during the manoeuvre but remarkably survived the crash, which took place around 5:15 pm on Friday, the first day of the airshow.
Local reports said that the plane was performing a loop as part of the display, but unfortunately did not pull up at the right time.
In the horrific footage, the plane can be seen doing multiple rolls in the air, as part of the routine display.
But when the plane finishes its manoeuvre, it attempts to pull back up to finish one big loop.
The plane then races towards the ground, not managing to ascend in time.
The plane and pilot inside smash into the floor, leaving horrified onlookers in a panic.
A loudspeaker announced to spectators that the pilot survived the devastating crash, but suffered serious injuries.
The airshow was cancelled or the rest of the day and all displays have been suspended.
Around 250,000 people were expected to attend the biennial airshow which was going to run from Friday to Sunday.
A spectator of the show said the crowd “fell silent” as the plane descended into the ground and crashed.
He told Daily Mail Australia: “The orange plane was doing a loop and didn’t pull up. He just went straight into the ground.
“I said to my mate before coming I had a bad feeling a plane would crash and then it happened.
“The crowd just fell silent. It was weird.
“If he had another 2-3 meters he would have made it.”
Another spectator said there was a “huge gasp” from the crowd as the saw the plane hit the floor.
“It really looked like the guy died – or could well have died. It was a very violent tumble,” he said.
The pilot who crashed was flying one of four aircraft taking part in the display.
Although it is not specified which pilot was involved in the crash, the Avalon 2025 website identifies Paul Bennett, Glenn Graham, Jesse Jury, and Glenn Collins as members of the Sky Aces Formation Aerobatic Team.
The Avalon Airshow has a strong focus on military aviation and displays aircraft from the Royal Australian Air Force, United States Navy and the United States Air Force.
According to the event it is the largest air show in the southern hemisphere.
Victoria Police, who responded to the crash with two emergency vehicles, said in a statement: “The exact circumstance surrounding the crash are yet to be determined.”
They added: “Emergency services were called to reports the plane, which was conducting a demonstration during an air show, had lost control and crashed into the tarmac about 5.15pm.
“The pilot and sole occupant of the aircraft sustained serious injuries.
“The incident occurred a significant distance away from spectators and there have been no reports of further injuries.
“Paramedics responded to an aircraft incident in Avalon around 5.35pm,” Ambulance Victoria stated.
“There is one patient with upper and lower body injuries, in a serious condition.
“An air ambulance has been dispatched.”
Police added that the exact cause of the crash has not been confirmed.
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