The incident took place last Thursday on the tarmac of Valenciennes airport, in the northern French commune of Prouvy. The 58-year-old pilot was hit by the propeller of his plane in the afternoon. The Belgian died in hospital in the evening from his injuries.
Verhellen regularly participated in aircraft shows and events, including the one in Prouvy. That tells organizer Laurent Deprez to the French newspaper La Voix du Nord. “He wasn’t interested in much other than aviation,” said Deprez, who describes the victim as a “good friend.” “Flying is always associated with risks, but the accident is very difficult for us,” it sounds.
The Belgian pilot was the owner of two Russian Yakovlev aircraft that were stationed at Valenciennes airport. Shortly before the drama, he posted some photos on his Facebook profile. “We flew between the showers,” he wrote with the images.
