Had Been A Technician For Red Bull Team Matt Hall Racing

Authorities in Panama have confirmed that Ron Simard, a pilot originally from Canada who served as a technician for Red Bull team Matt Hall Racing, was fatally injured last week in an accident in Panama.

The CBC reports that Simard had been living in Chame in southwest Panama with his wife.

Simard was flying an NXT airplane he had built himself and had been flying for about five years. Video released by local media show the plane lifting off from Marcos A. Gelabert airport in Panama City, and then impacting terrain at a steep nose-down attitude.

Alfredo Fonseco Mora, the director of Panama's civil aviation authority, said ""These are things that happen sometimes with experimental planes. This plane is a very fast plane, it has a powerful engine."

Simard was originally from Saskatchewan, Canada. A spokesperson for Global Affairs Canada confirmed the fatality. "Consular officials stand ready to provide consular assistance to family as required. To protect the privacy of the family concerned, further details on this case cannot be released," the spokesperson said.

(Image from Facebook)

FMI: Original Report