Chris Darnell, a 40-year-old jet truck driver, died in an air show accident last Saturday, July 2.
The truck, equipped with three jet engines capable of reaching up to 350 miles an hour, caught in flames and combusted on the runway.
This disaster occurred at the Battle Creek Field of Flight Air Show and Balloon Festival in
Battle Creek, Michigan. The jet truck that Mr. Darnell was driving was equipped with J-34 jet
engines providing 21,000 pounds of thrust. It was racing with two planes when it was caught in flames after seeming to race through an explosion that was meant for effects. The truck promptly broke into pieces and tumbled down on the runway afterwards.
“Chris had a crash, and the jet truck flipped over, and, unfortunately, he did not live,” said
Barbara Haluszka, the executive director of the festival. Despite what it looked like, Mr. Darnell did not drive through the flames, but next to them, she said.
Neal Darnell, Chris’ father, believes that the accident was “a result of mechanical failure on
the Jet Truck.”
“We are so sad,” he said in a post. “Just one month ago Chris turned 40. He was so well
loved by everyone who knew him. Chris so loved the Air Show business. He was ‘Living the Dream’ as he said.”
No other people were hurt or injured. Specific details of what occurred are now under
current investigation by the police.
Links:
https://www.nytimes.com/2022/07/02/us/jet-truck-explosion-michigan-air-show.html
https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/jet-truck-driver-dies-accident-michigan-air-showrcna36481
The truck, equipped with three jet engines capable of reaching up to 350 miles an hour, caught in flames and combusted on the runway.
This disaster occurred at the Battle Creek Field of Flight Air Show and Balloon Festival in
Battle Creek, Michigan. The jet truck that Mr. Darnell was driving was equipped with J-34 jet
engines providing 21,000 pounds of thrust. It was racing with two planes when it was caught in flames after seeming to race through an explosion that was meant for effects. The truck promptly broke into pieces and tumbled down on the runway afterwards.
“Chris had a crash, and the jet truck flipped over, and, unfortunately, he did not live,” said
Barbara Haluszka, the executive director of the festival. Despite what it looked like, Mr. Darnell did not drive through the flames, but next to them, she said.
Neal Darnell, Chris’ father, believes that the accident was “a result of mechanical failure on
the Jet Truck.”
“We are so sad,” he said in a post. “Just one month ago Chris turned 40. He was so well
loved by everyone who knew him. Chris so loved the Air Show business. He was ‘Living the Dream’ as he said.”
No other people were hurt or injured. Specific details of what occurred are now under
current investigation by the police.
Links:
https://www.nytimes.com/2022/07/02/us/jet-truck-explosion-michigan-air-show.html
https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/jet-truck-driver-dies-accident-michigan-air-showrcna36481
