Prayers & Suport needed after P 51 crash

Unknown number of casualties and injuries after P 51 crashes into or in front of stands in last last race of the day at the National Championship Air Races @ Reno Sted Airport. We were watching from the hills and left about an hour and a half before it happened.

 

Video and unconfermed updates.
http://youtu.be/rCNePeKn3Tg

RENO, Nev. (MyNews4.com & KRNV) - Breaking News: Plane Reported down at Reno Air Races.

It has been confirmed the Unlimited P 51 mustang plane "Galloping Ghost" piloted by Jimmy Leeward from Florida has gone into the stands during Race 77.

News4 is heading to the scene and will report more when it is available to us.

Reno air race crash update: Medical official tells AP more than 75 injured, 25 critically; no word on deaths; KOLO says 12 dead

 

R.I.P

 

Reno Air Race spokesman describes crash as 'mass casualtysituation'

Update at 5:30 p.m.: The situation at Reno-Stead Airport is described as a "masscasualty event" by Mike Draper, a spokesman for the Reno National Championship Air Races. Draper could not provide specific numbers but said emergency protocol is being followed.

He said the pilot of the crashed aircraft is Jimmy Leeward, piloting the GallopingGhost. He could provide no information about the pilot's condition.

Witnesses to today’s crash at the Reno National Championship Air Races are describing a horrific scene, with multiple fatalities and body parts strewn across the tarmac at Reno-Stead Airport.

“It’s just like a massacre. It’s like a bomb went off,” said Dr. Gerald Lent of Reno,who witnessed the crash. “There are people lying all over the runway.”

The only thing the Korean War veteran could compare the scene to was combat.

“One guy was cut in half. There’s blood everywhere,” Lent said. “There’s arms and legs. One guy just said ‘hey, there’s another foot over here.”

Lentsaid the P-51 fighter was racing when the aircraft pulled straight up, made a roll and “went right into the audience” in the VIP area.

Juan Echeverria, 37, of Sparks, said he was about 100 feet away when the World WarII-era fighter went down.

“The guy lost control, shot straight up into the air and came down into the people,”Echeverria said. “It hit full force, full throttle.”

The plane did not explode but “just disintegrated into debris,” Echeverria said.“There’s a huge crater where it hit.”

Echeverria described a horrific scene.

“It’s shocking,” he said. “The scene is very gruesome.”

Lent said in his opinion, the crash could spell the end of the air races in Reno.
“I don’t know how we can have air races here again,” he said. “It’s over.”

-------------------

UPDATEat 5:27 p.m.: Greg Erny, 57, said a plane made a turn then went up and came straight down into the grand stands. He said the plane disintegrated into the crowd of people.

"it was the most sickening thing I've ever seen just watching the plane, there was no plane left," he said He watched it about 100 yards away in the VIPsection.

 

Just reported
Pilot only confirmed death so far.

 

just speechless.

 

6:18 p.m. update: Renown says two people have died in the Reno Air Races crash, and nine of the 22 patients being treated are in critical condition. It is unclear if the two dead include pilot Jimmy Leeward, for whom a memorial is planned tomorrow.
6:12 p.m. update: A World War II era fighter plane plunged into the grandstands Friday during a popular annual air show, injuring at least 75 spectators and leaving a horrific scene of bodies and wreckage.

It wasn’t immediately known if anyone died in the crash but a spokesman for the event called it a “mass casualty event.” Video showed a chaotic scene with several people apparently badly wounded.

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. More than 25 more people were treated for minor injuries, she said.

Kruse said the critically injured were considered to have life-threatening injuries.
Airport personnel and military evacuated other spectators, and several emergency vehicles were headed to the scene.

The P-51 Mustang crashed into a box seat area at the front of the grandstand at about 4:30 p.m., said race spokesman Mike Draper.

 

RIP Jimmy Leeward and to the unknown victims and their families. RIP to the Reno Air Races. This will be the last one. I am sick.

 

New video.
After 50 sec jump to 3 min 15 sec

http://youtu.be/nTzX35wOGas

 

Purchase ImageZoom
Long time Reno Air Race pilot Jimmy Leeward with his P51 mustang "Galloping Ghost: Wednesday Sept. 15, 2010 at the Reno National Championship Air Races. Leeward was the pilot involved in a deadly crash Friday, Sept. 16, 2011. / Marilyn Newton / RGJ file

 

Randy, thanks for your updates.

 

I read somewhere while finding updates 19 deaths before today

 

BREAKING: 2 spectators and Pilot confirmed dead in Crash

 

May God be with all of the families that are affected by this tragic event.

 

chris4x4
AlphaEcho2k5
S.B.
Scocar
BAELKHNTR
Thanks for your thoughts.

I don’t know anyone involved in this but I thought the ones that are and their families and friends could use some support and prayers. And I just heard that an elementary school was there on a field trip and they are all OK.

 

OH no. Prayers and strength sent.

 

True

Thanks

 

My prayers and condolences to the families ...