Air Show Community Mourns Loss of Champion Pilot Rob Holland After Crash at Military Base

Rob Holland was a renowned trick pilot known for his impressive aerobatic shows. He died Thursday in a crash at Joint Base Langley-Eustis in Hampton, Virginia. Holland, who is 48 years old, was getting ready to perform at the Air Power over Hampton Roads air show this coming weekend.

On April 24, 2025, Rob Holland died in an accident. As stated on his company's Facebook page, "It is with the heaviest of hearts that I share this news." "Rob was one of the most respected and inspiring aerobatic pilots in aviation history."

The commander of the 633d Air Base Wing, Col. Matthew Altman, stated that the crash happened around 11:30 a.m. local time when Holland was making his final approach to the runway. Dutchman Holland was flying his specially made experimental MSX plane for air shows when he lost control and crashed between a taxiway and a runway. Officials made it clear that Holland was not doing any tricks at the time.

"Tragically, in that loss, we lost a great friend to the Air Force," he said. After speaking with the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and air show officials, Altman stated that the show would proceed as planned despite the tragedy.

Daniel Boggs, an NTSB Air Safety Investigator, stated that the crash is still under investigation and that a final report will be ready in 12 to 18 months. Boggs said Holland's plane was a high-performance, single-engine model that had almost twice the horsepower of most planes of the same size.

Holland was a massive name in the world of aerobatics. He won 13 straight U.S. National Aerobatic Championships, six World 4-minute Freestyle Championships, and a gold medal at the 2015 World Air Games. He was also a member of the U.S. Aerobatic Team ten times.

The head of the International Council of Air Shows, John Cudahy, said that Holland was a famous figure. "He was one of the best aerobatic pilots maybe ever," he said. "Rob personified professionalism, hard work, and incredible attention to detail when it came to safety and performance."

There is a huge hole in the aviation world after Holland's death. He was admired not only for his daring feats but also for his unwavering commitment to greatness and inspiring spirit.