A pilot has died after his plane spiralled out of control and crashed at an air show in South Africa.

Axar.az reports, citing Sky News, the crash happened at the West Coast Air Show in Saldanha, a town about 110 km north of Cape Town, on Saturday.

The pilot was performing a routine display intended to demonstrate the capabilities of the Impala Mark 1 - a beloved warbird with deep historical significance for many South Africans. It was especially a huge moment because the Impala has not been seen performing at air shows for many years.

The manoeuvres were being executed as part of the official air show programme, witnessed by thousands of spectators.

Eyewitness accounts report that the aircraft appeared to be under control during most of the display. However, during one of the final manoeuvres, the aircraft experienced a sudden loss of altitude and entered a steep dive before making contact with the ground.

No other injuries were reported.