Airshow Pilot Rob Holland Killed in Accident

Multipronged investigation into crash near Langley AFB in Virginia is underway.

Meg Godlewski

Thursday, April 24, 2025 at 05:51 PM ET

Verified

Edited By:

Travis Tingle

After his show airplane was damaged beyond repair, Rob Holland will continue to perform his heart-stopping maneuvers in an MX2. Glenn Watson/Mach Point One Aviation Photography

Key Takeaways:

Rob Holland, a highly respected aerobatic pilot and airshow performer, died in an aircraft landing accident near Langley Air Force Base in Hampton, Virginia.
Holland was a prominent figure in aviation, known for his numerous accomplishments including 13 consecutive U.S. National Aerobatic championships and multiple world titles.
The accident occurred shortly before he was scheduled to perform at an airshow, and is currently under investigation by the FAA, NTSB, and Department of Defense.

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Rob Holland, one of the top aerobatic pilots and airshow performers in the world, was killed in an aircraft landing accident Thursday near Langley Air Force Base in Hampton, Virginia.

According to the schedule posted on ultimateairshows.com, Holland, 50, was scheduled to perform at the Air Power Over Hampton Roads airshow this weekend in his MXS-RH, the all-carbon fiber single-seat aerobatic design he had been competing in since 2011.