Two pilots were killed in a crash at Reno air race tragedy. Read on to learn more about the air crash incident and what happened to Chris Rushing & Nick Macy in detail.
What happened to Chris Rushing & Nick Macy?
According to the Reno Air Racing Association, two pilots were killed Sunday when their planes crashed while landing during an air racing event in Reno, Nevada.
The Reno Air Racing Association said that “expertly skilled pilots and Gold winners in the T-6 Class” Nick Macy and Chris Rushing had passed away.
The collision happened around 2:15 p.m. local time in a “landing accident” during the T-6 Gold Race at the National Championship Air Races (NCAR).
The National Transportation Safety Board determined that the plane’s wreckage was located about a half mile apart from one another after they collided in midair, as claimed by the Federal Aviation Administration.
How did Chris Rushing and Nick Macy die?
Chris Rushing and Nick Macy were killed in a tragic air crash incident on September 18, 2023.
Rushing served as the head of the Condor Squadron in Van Nuys, a “group of aviation enthusiasts dedicated to preserving the memory of those who have served our country over the years,” which conducts memorial flights in WWII-era aircraft that have been refurbished.
As per the RARA’s information, Macy had participated in the competition in Six-Cat since 1986, while Rushing had participated in air races since 2005 and since 2012 in Baron’s Revenge.
The RARA stated it is complying with the investigation, which is being conducted by the National Transportation Safety Board.
From September 13 to September 17, the National Championship Air Races were held. The event, which began in 1964, is referred to on the RARA website as “the last event of its kind.”
Fred Telling, chairman of the Reno Air Racing Association and president of the T-6 Class released the statement following the crash saying,
“I am completely devastated and heartbroken today. These two pilots weren’t just an integral part of the National Championship Air Race family, they were a part of my family. My heart goes out to their own families and to all of the spectators and fans who have so enthusiastically supported us this week.”
Reno air crash tragedy explained:
According to reports, Macy was operating the Six-Cat plane from Tulelake, California, and Rushing was operating the Baron’s Revenge from Van Nuys, California. Rushing, the winner on Sunday, was the reigning champion.
The Reno Air Racing Association released the statement after this incident. The statement reads,
‘Safety is the foremost concern of RARA and we work year-round to host the safest possible event possible’
‘As we always do, we are cooperating with the National Transportation Safety Board, the FAA, and all local authorities to identify the cause of the accident and ensure that all of our pilots, spectators, and volunteers have the necessary support during this time,’ the agency said
Following the fatal crash, the association said they decided to cancel the remaining races and are trying to get in touch with the families of the pilots.
The RARA streamed live throughout the day, but according to their Facebook page, the video was stopped after comments poured in with real-time reports of the disaster.
Tributes to Chris Rushing and Nick Macy:
John Rausch posted,
IReno was awesome until it wasn’t. Our deepest sympathy and condolences to the family’s of both T-6 pilots. Nick Macy and Chris Rushing, who unfortunately did not make it.
Bob Tregilus posted,
What a horrible way to end the National Championship Air Races in Reno. RIP to the two pilots who lost their lives today. While attempting to land after the AT-6 Gold Race, and RIP to the Reno Air Races.
Craig Owens posted,
The end of an era in Reno. Tragic how it came to an end. RIP, Nick Macey and Chris Rushing.
Branden Brown said,
Thoughts and prayers out to the family and friends of Chris Rushing race 14 “barons revenge” and Nick Macey race 6 “Six-Cat”….. not what I wanted to watch today…rip and blue skys.
Phil Borland commented,
A tragic end to a wonderful Reno Air Races. At the end of this race, as they were approaching landing, 2 aircraft collided killing both pilots. Chris Rushing and Nick Macy. Such a sad loss.
AWD: All Waifu Drive posted,
RIP Nick Macey and Chris Rushing who were killed in a mid air collision today the Reno Airaces.
All Racing Activitys have been Cancled
Planes involved:Six Cat and Barron’s Revenge
KEEP READING,
Janet-Fierce Andrews died, Miss Gay’s illness & cause of death explained
Billy Miller died, How did the actor die? Cause of death and obituary
Follow us on Twitter for more updates.
Dhaleela (Editor) is a content writer with 4 years of experience in writing blog posts, articles, and job description-based writings. She joined Medico Topics on the Breaking News trainee scheme in 2022 and now works on MedicoTopics.com. She focuses on crafting informative and engaging content for web pages and web posts in a variety of niches, including news, health, technology, and sports.
Coverage: Obituary, Crime, Missing, Sports, Entertainment