Goodyear Blimp Pilot Dies in Airship Crash, Saves Three Journalists
Goodyear Blimp Pilot Mike Nerandzic was caught in flames in his airship on Sunday at Reichelsheim Airfield in Germany, after saving the lives of his three passengers onboard.
The A60 Goodyear airship was reportedly coming in to land when fire broke out in both engines, causing the 53-year-old veteran pilot to order his passengers to jump out to safety, just under seven feet off the ground.
After they did so, the blimp rapidly ascended 150 feet in the air engulfed in flames, most likely due to the loss of cabin weight, according to Fox News.
Get Our Latest News for FREE
Only the wreckage survived and hit the ground in a meadow nearby the airfield.
Witnesses described loud noises coming from the air before seeing “fireball” moments.
“We could hear the cries of the pilot as the fire surrounded him,” one witness told the Daily Mail. “It was terrible.”
Though the cause of the crash is still yet to be determined, there are speculations that the airship’s propellers may have hit the ground too hard during the landing.
An investigation is currently underway by the aviation and local authorities, The Lightship Group, which operates the blimp on behalf of Goodyear, according to a statement.
Those onboard included three journalists, one from Germany’s Bild newspaper and two from RTL television.
“Our thoughts are with the family and friends of the crew member, and also with our colleagues and the passengers involved with the airship tour in Germany,” The Lightship Group stated.
Nerandzic, from Wollongong, NSW, had flown airships for over 26 years and logged more than 12,000 hours. He also flew them above five Olympic Games, The Register reported.
A friend of the pilot who declined to be named told the Daily Mail, “He has always put other people first. I don’t even think he would have realized he was doing it – it would have just been instinct.”
“He will be a real loss to the community.”
Another person on the airship portal commented, “Mike showed great bravery when the incident occurred and saved the lives of the three passengers.”
“He was simply one of the best airship pilots in the world. Anyone in the industry will tell you that.”
The Airship was one of the two leased by Goodyear from Lightship Europe Limited for marketing purposes in Europe. The second airship has been withdrawn from service until further notice.
