Stunned tourists watched the small aircraft, which appeared to be performing stunts, suddenly plummet into the sea – before rescue teams raced to the scene to recover the bodies
An ex-military fighter pilot and his 13-year-old son have tragically died in a plane crash while performing stunts for tourists in Majorca.
Holidaymakers were left stunned as they watched the small aircraft suddenly plummet into the sea before rescue teams raced to the scene to recover the bodies. The jet was first seen flying low at around 8.20pm on Saturday night at the resort village of Soller in the north-west of Majorca with no signs of struggle. When it crashed near Soller’s port – surrounded by cliffs, houses and hotels – witnesses gasped in horror. Members of the Fire Station of the Port of Sóller, Maritime Rescue and the GEAS of the Civil Guard were immediately activated to carry out search and rescue work.
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A spokesman for the Civil Guard in Majorca said at 2pm local time: “Around 1pm Civil Guard diving specialists from the elite GEAS unit mobilised as part of the emergency response involving our force, coastguards, the Navy and Air Force, recovered the bodies of the pilot and his son who was with him in the plane. The bodies have been taken to Soller Port.” It comes after a warning to Brit tourists planning all-inclusive holidays to Spain.
The 60-year-old and his son, believed to be 13, have not yet been officially named. The dead man has been described locally as an ex combat pilot with “extensive experience” in flying F-18 and F-14 fighter jets operating from US Navy aircraft carriers.
The Majorca Fire Department had previously said that everything indicated one or two people may have been on board. The Guardia Civil have meanwhile spoken to a number of witnesses. One of them, a local resident who was at sea with his family, said he had spotted the plane flying very low. It then passed roughly 15 to 20 metres above the group before crashing into the water and then sinking.
The plane is said to have been found at a depth of around 30 metres.