IAOPA STATEMENT CORRECTS REPORTS THAT CHINA AFFILIATE SPONSORED AIRSHOW LINKED TO U.S. PILOT'S DEATH
Sept. 20, 2013
Contact: Steve Hedges
301-695-2159
[email protected]
IAOPA STATEMENT CORRECTS REPORTS THAT AOPA-CHINA AFFILIATE SPONSORED AIRSHOW LINKED TO U.S. PILOT’S DEATH
Frederick, MD. – The International Council of the Aircraft Owner and Pilot Associations (IAOPA) has released a statement correcting press reports that AOPA-China sponsored an airshow in Shenyang, China in which a U.S. pilot recently died in an accident during a rehearsal.
Pilot David Riggs reportedly died after his Lancair 320 aircraft crashed into a lake near Shenyang. A Chinese interpreter flying with Riggs was also killed.
Chinese media incorrectly reported that AOPA-China sponsored the upcoming airshow. In fact, the local government of Shenyang has sponsored an airshow this weekend in Faku, China. AOPA-China is not involved in that airshow.
“While it is of course regrettable that these deaths and this accident have occurred, it is also regrettable that the facts have been misreported,” said Craig Spence, IAOPA’s secretary general. “AOPA-China is in no way affiliated with the upcoming airshow. It sponsored an airshow in Shenyang in 2012, but not this year.”
The sponsoring organizations for the 2013 Shenyang Airshow may be found by visiting:
http://aero-shenyang.com/english/ .
About IAOPA
IAOPA is a nonprofit federation of autonomous, nongovernmental, national general aviation organizations. IAOPA has represented international general aviation for more than 50 years. The combined total of individuals represented by the constituent member groups of IAOPA is over 470,000 pilots who fly general aviation aircraft for business and personal transportation.
- AOPA -
13-3-018
