An investigation is underway after an aerobatic pilot was killed in an “experimental” aircraft crash at Joint Base Langley-Eustis on Thursday.
A Facebook statement released on Rob Holand Aerosports page identified Rob Holand as the aerobatic pilot killed in Thursday’s crash at Langley Air Force Base. The New York Post reported that the crash involving Holland’s “experimental” MX Aircraft MXS occurred just prior to noon on Thursday while the pilot was attempting to land at Joint Base Langley-Eustis.
“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,” Rob Holand Aerosports stated in Thursday’s Facebook post. “The cause of the crash is not known at this time, and is under investigation by the FAA, NTSB, and DOD.”
The Facebook statement added, “Rob was one of the most respected and inspiring aerobatic pilots in aviation history. Even with an absolutely impressive list of accomplishments, both in classical competition aerobatics and within the air show world, Rob was the most humble person with a singular goal to simply be better than he was yesterday.”
According to Fox News, Holland had 12 consecutive wins at the U.S. National Aerobatic Championships and five wins at the Freestyle Aerobatic Championships. The outlet noted that Holland also received the International Council of Airshows’ Art Scholl Award for Showmanship.
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According to Holland’s website, the aerobatic pilot was expected to participate on Saturday and Sunday in the Hampton Roads airshow at Joint Base Langely-Eustis prior to Thursday’s fatal crash.
“Today we lost a friend of our Air Force family,” Col. Matthew Altman, commander of Joint Base Langley-Eustis, said in a statement obtained by Military Times. “On behalf of our entire JBLE team, I want to express our deepest sympathy to the family and friends of this incredible aviator.”
According to Fox News, Langley Air Force Base officials confirmed that Thursday’s incident is “currently under investigation,” adding, “The safety and security of our personnel and the local community are our top priorities.”
The National Transportation Safety Board also released a statement on X, formerly Twitter, confirming that the agency was “investigating the crash of an experimental MX Aircraft MXS.”
