Five Jockeys Escape Mid-Air Scare En Route to Glorious Goodwood

Five professional jockeys narrowly avoided disaster this morning when the aircraft transporting them to the Glorious Goodwood races suffered a dramatic engine failure mid-flight. The incident occurred aboard a Piper PA-31 Navajo, registration N5LL, which departed from Bagby Airfield at approximately 10:00am. On board were well-known jockeys Rowan Scott, Tom Eaves, PJ McDonald, Jack Garritty, […]

Five professional jockeys narrowly avoided disaster this morning when the aircraft transporting them to the Glorious Goodwood races suffered a dramatic engine failure mid-flight.

The incident occurred aboard a Piper PA-31 Navajo, registration N5LL, which departed from Bagby Airfield at approximately 10:00am. On board were well-known jockeys Rowan Scott, Tom Eaves, PJ McDonald, Jack Garritty, and Callum Rodriguez, all en route to one of the most prestigious events in the British flat racing calendar.

Engine Failure Over Uppingham

At around 10:36am, while cruising southbound over Uppingham, the aircraft’s left engine reportedly emitted a loud bang before shutting down entirely. In a startling turn, the propeller spinner detached during the failure, striking the aircraft’s nose and causing visible structural damage.

Despite the serious malfunction, the pilot remained composed and initiated an emergency U-turn, opting to return to Bagby Airfield. The aircraft flew for approximately 40 minutes on a single engine before landing safely at 11:18am.

No Injuries, But Questions Remain

All five jockeys and the pilot emerged unscathed and were able to deplane without assistance. It remains unclear whether the group will continue their journey to Goodwood via alternative transport.

The UK Civil Aviation Authority (CAA) and the Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) are expected to launch a formal investigation into the engine failure and the resulting damage to the aircraft.

A Lucky Escape

The incident has sent ripples through the racing community, with many expressing relief at the safe outcome. With Glorious Goodwood underway, the focus now shifts to whether the jockeys will make it in time to compete — and how close they came to tragedy in the skies above Leicestershire.