Famed stunt pilot Rob Holland dies in plane crash days before airshow

Airshow pilot Rob Holland, 50, died in a plane crash Thursday at Langley Air Force Base in Virginia, according to authorities and his social media accounts. The flyer was scheduled to perform Saturday and Sunday in the Air Power Over Hampton Roads airshow. An MX Aircraft MXS crashed Thursday morning while attempting to land at the base in Hampton, the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) said in a preliminary statement. Only the pilot was on board. Although the FAA did not identify the victim, Rob Holland Aerosports confirmed it was Holland on Facebook. "It is with the heaviest of hearts that I am sharing that Rob Holland lost his life today, 24 April 2025, in an accident at Langley AFB, VA," the social media post said. Rob Holland Aerosports did not respond to request for additional comment Friday. The cause of the crash is unknown, and the National Transportation Safety Board is leading the investigation. The plane was descending for a routine landing and not performing any acrobatic maneuvers when it crashed, NTSB air safety investigator Dan Boggs said. Although NTSB and Air Force officials did not identify Holland as the victim, Boggs did offer condolences to the family and friends of the "well-known pilot." "The world of aviation has truly lost a legend, a hero and even more so, a great human being," Col. Matthew Altman said at Friday's news conference. Holland was an award-winning airshow performer with a career spanning two decades. He held a record 12 consecutive U.S. National Aerobatic Championships and was the defending, five-time World Freestyle Aerobatic Champion, his biography said. He was bestowed the highest honor among airshow pilots, the Art Scholl Award for Showmanship, in 2012 by the International Council of Airshows. A native of New England, Holland's website states he first obtained his pilot's license and started flying acrobatics as a teenager. He graduated from Daniel Webster College in 1997 with degrees in aviation/airway management and aviation flight operations. Holland spent more than 15,000 hours in the air in more than 180 types of aircraft. "One of my goals is to take aerobatics to the next level," Holland was quoted saying on his website. "I want to push the limits of what can be done." Holland flew an MXS-RH aircraft in performances, described as a "state-of- the-art aerobatic masterpiece" on his website. The plane was built by MX aircraft in North Carolina with Holland's suggested design modifications, including a cockpit laid out to his exact specifications. Altman said the base is proceeding with the airshow, after consulting with the NTSB. "We do hope that it is also a tribute to his legacy and really his wizardry in the air," Altman said.