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Date Published: 07/08/2025

Former US fighter pilot and son die in Mallorca plane crash

Experienced pilot and his 13-year-old son were flying an aerobatic plane when it went down off the coast of Sóller

A retired US Air Force fighter pilot and his teenage son tragically lost their lives after their light aircraft crashed into the sea off Puerto de Sóller, in Mallorca, on Saturday evening.

Charles Michael Gordon, aged 60, was an experienced American pilot with a lifelong passion for flying. His 13-year-old son, Maximilian, who shared his father’s love of aviation, was flying with him when the accident happened.

The crash occurred around 8.00pm on Saturday August 2, just a short distance from the Sóller lighthouse. Witnesses on boats nearby raised the alarm after seeing the small plane go down approximately 100 metres from the shore, in waters around 30 metres deep.

The aircraft, a two-seater RV-4 model modified for aerobatic flying, had taken off from Binissalem airfield about two hours earlier. The plane had been stationed there for some time and was often used by Gordon for flights and air shows across Europe.

An extensive search and rescue operation was launched immediately, led by the Civil Guard with support from Maritime Rescue, Mallorca firefighters, the Air Force, and Navy personnel. The command centre was set up at the military base in Puerto de Sóller to coordinate the effort.

Challenging sea conditions and fading light meant the operation had to continue into the next day. On Sunday morning, divers from the Special Underwater Activities Group (GEAS) recovered the bodies of both father and son. They were taken back to port for formal identification and forensic procedures.

Gordon had previously served as a fighter pilot in the US Air Force before retiring and focusing on aerobatic flying. He had brought his aircraft across the Atlantic from the United States, making a stop in Newfoundland before reaching Mallorca last summer. The island had become a favourite summer spot for him, where he continued to perform aerial manoeuvres and train.

Although the cause of the crash remains under investigation, early indications suggest it may have happened during an aerobatic training flight. Investigators are working to determine whether mechanical failure, human error, or a combination of factors was responsible.

The aviation community has been left stunned by the tragedy. Gordon was widely known as a skilled and passionate pilot, and those close to him said flying was a joy he shared closely with his son.

Locals and tourists alike have expressed sadness over the loss, in what has become one of the most serious air accidents on the island in recent years.

Image: Matheus Bertelli/Pexels

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