Mallorca, Spain: Spanish rescue teams have recovered the bodies of a 60-year-old pilot and his 13-year-old son who were killed when their two-seater stunt aircraft crashed into the Mediterranean Sea near the Sóller lighthouse on Saturday evening. The aircraft, a Team Rocket F‑4 Raider, reportedly belonged to the pilot and was often used for recreational flights and aerobatic displays. Witnesses said the plane had been flying low and performing manoeuvres over the water shortly before it plunged nose-first into the sea around 8:20 p.m. local time, barely 100 meters off the Puerto Sóller coast. The impact sent up a spray of seawater before the aircraft disappeared beneath the surface, sinking to a depth of approximately 30 meters. Authorities have not released the names of the victims pending formal identification and notification of next of kin. However, officials confirmed the pilot was a former U.S. Navy aviator with experience flying F‑18 and F‑14 fighter jets from aircraft carriers. After leaving military service, he continued his aviation career in Europe and maintained a holiday home in Mallorca. The crash triggered an immediate response from Spain’s Maritime Rescue agency, supported by the Civil Guard’s GEAS diving unit, local fire brigades, and Spanish Navy and Air Force personnel. Multiple recreational boats in the area were asked to clear the zone as search and recovery operations began. Initial efforts on Saturday night were hampered by darkness and sea conditions, prompting teams to resume operations at first light on Sunday. Divers located the wreckage in deep water and recovered the bodies around 1 p.m. local time. They were transferred to Puerto de Sóller and later to the Forensic Anatomy Institute in Palma for autopsy. A Civil Guard spokesperson confirmed an investigation into the crash is underway. Authorities are expected to examine the aircraft’s maintenance records, weather conditions, and eyewitness accounts, as well as reconstruct the flight path to determine what led to the fatal dive. No mechanical issues or environmental factors have been officially confirmed at this stage. The incident took place in an area popular with pleasure craft, prompting temporary maritime traffic restrictions to ensure the safety of recovery teams and prevent further accidents.
Aircraft Crashes

Father and 13-Year-Old Son Killed as Team Rocket F‑4 Raider Crashes Off Mallorca Coast

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Mallorca, Spain: Spanish rescue teams have recovered the bodies of a 60-year-old pilot and his 13-year-old son who were killed […]