Timeline: Air show fatalities during the CNE
Posted August 23, 2015 12:41 pm.
Last Updated August 23, 2015 1:32 pm.
This article is more than 5 years old.
As Toronto readies for the 66th annual Canadian International Air Show, there’s been a second fatal air show crash in Europe in as many days.
At least 11 people were killed on Saturday after a fighter jet crashed into a busy road in the U.K., and on Sunday, one pilot died after a mid-air collision between two small planes at an air show in Switzerland.
While it’s been nearly two decades since an air show fatality during the Canadian National Exhibition, the event has seen its share of disasters. Compiled below are a list of deadly incidents at the Canadian International Air Show:
Aug. 23, 1949: During practice, two pilots were killed after their planes collided over Malton.
Sept. 19, 1953: A pilot was killed after his aircraft failed to recover from a loop maneuver and crashed into Lake Ontario. There was low cloud and rain reported during the looping maneuvers.
Sept. 5, 1957: During practice, two pilots were killed after their plane went into an inverted spin and crashed.
Sept. 2, 1966: A pilot from the famed Blue Angels was killed when he crashed his plane into a breakwater at the Toronto Island Airport.
Sept. 2, 1977: Pilot Allen Ness was killed after his aircraft stalled and failed to pull up after a maneuver.
Sept. 3, 1989: Snowbird pilot Capt. Shane Antaya died after a midair collision forced his plane to crash into Lake Ontario. Major Dan Dempsey was involved in the accident but was able to safely eject from his aircraft.
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Sept. 2, 1995: Seven Royal Air Force crew members were killed when their plane stalled during a low altitude turn and crashed into Lake Ontario.
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In a statement issued to CityNews on Sunday, organizers of the Canadian International Air Show said that aircraft “may not perform any aerobatic activity over any built up area.
“All air show maneuvers occur out over the lake and inside a show box, distant from the spectators and from any part of the city.”
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