At least nine spectators dead after plane crashes at Reno show

At least nine spectators have died and dozens more were injured after a plane crashed during an airshow near Reno, Nevada, at the National Championship Air Races near Reno, Nevada.

The World War II fighter plane dived into the grandstands today during the annual show, killing its elderly pilot, and injuring at least 50 spectators and leaving a horrific scene of bodies and wreckage, the Herald Sun reports.

"It's just like a massacre. It's like a bomb went off," said witness Gerald Lent, quoted by the Reno Gazette-Journal.

"There are people lying all over the runway. One guy was cut in half. There's blood everywhere," he said, ABC reports.

Earlier, KOLO-TV reported that 12 people had been killed.

Nevada police late Saturday raised the death toll from three to nine.

More than 50 people were injured; eight of them remain in a critical condition, ABC reports.

An investigation has begun after the elderly pilot – a race veteran – apparently lost control of the P-51 Mustang and crashed into a box seat area at the front of the grandstand at about 4.30pm local time, race spokesman Mike Draper said.

AFP reported at least two people died but there is no official confirmation yet of any casualties.

Amateur video posted on YouTube showed the plane crashing nose-down at the show after several other planes raced by in the air, and spectators could be heard gasping: "Oh, my God." Reuters reports.

Stephanie Kruse, a spokeswoman for the Regional Emergency Medical Service Authority, said 25 people were critically injured and another 25 people were seriously hurt in the crash.

“This is a very large incident, probably one of the largest this community has seen in decades,'' Kruse told The Associated Press.

“The community is pulling together to try to deal with the scope of it. The hospitals have certainly geared up and staffed up to deal with it.''

KRNV-TV weatherman Jeff Martinez, who was just outside the air race grounds at the time, said the plane veered to the right and then “it just augered straight into the ground.''

“You saw pieces and parts going everywhere,'' he said. “Everyone is in disbelief.''

Another witness, Ronald Sargis, said he was sitting in the box seat area near the finish line when the crash occurred.

The Herald Sun reports:

Draper identified the pilot of the P-51 Mustang as Jimmy Leeward of Florida, who according to race official Mike Draper, is 80 years-old.

Draper told CNN that Leeward had called in a mayday but no reason was given for the emegency alert.

“We don't know why it crashed,'' Draper said, adding that the plane had hit the box-seat area in front of the main grandstand.

Leeward is the owner of the Leeward Air Ranch Racing Team and is a well-known racing pilot. His website says he has flown more than 120 races and served as a stunt pilot for numerous movies, including Amelia and Cloud Dancer.