Coroner concludes death of paraplegic campaigner Claire Lomas an accident
The 44 year old from Leicestershire, was filming in Jordan when her aircraft veered off the runway and hit rocks.
Last updated 19 hours ago
The death of a paraplegic charity fundraiser in a microlight crash while filming a series for Apple was an accident, a coroner has concluded.
Claire Lomas, 44, who was paralysed from the chest down after a horse riding accident in 2007, “veered off the runway” and hit a large rock while landing the aircraft in Jordan on July 15 2024.
An inquest at County Hall in Glenfield, Leicestershire, heard that Ms Lomas died of multiple severe traumatic injuries at King Hussein Medical Centre in the country’s capital Amman more than five weeks later on August 22.
Ms Lomas, who had been the first person to complete a marathon in a “bionic” suit, was filming her flight over the landscape for a series Apple had commissioned for its Vision Pro headset.
On Thursday, senior coroner for Rutland and North Leicestershire Louise Pinder recorded Ms Lomas’s death as accidental.
The coroner concluded: “Claire Lomas was involved in the filming of an episode of Adventure which formed part of a series designed for a virtual reality headset.
“On July 15 2024, Claire Lomas was being filmed flying her specially adapted microlight near Petra in Jordan.
“During the final approach to the roadway, where she was to land, it became apparent to her and to those on the ground that the aircraft was not perfectly aligned.
“Claire made a split-second decision to abort the landing and go around but the aircraft touched down firmly, veered to the left, the left wheel leaving the road on to gravel causing her to further lose control.
“The aircraft collided with rocks approximately 10 metres from the metalled road surface, as a result of which she sustained multiple traumatic injuries.”
Miss Pinder added: “I have heard no evidence establishing a causal link between any deficiencies in the risk assessment and Claire’s death.
“I am reassured, as I hope the family will be, that there have been thorough investigations as far as possible into the circumstances of Claire’s death and some lessons have been learnt.”
The Royal Aero Sports Club of Jordan concluded there was no violation of ground or air safety procedures, the inquest heard.
The coroner found there was no evidence the 180-degree camera mounted to the aircraft adversely affected the flight.
Miss Pinder said Ms Lomas did not have a practice flight at the location in Jordan with the camera on the microlight, but that she made the decision to fly that day.
The coroner added that Ms Lomas’s family had concerns about the care she received in the hospital in Jordan, but there was “insufficient evidence” to conclude whether there were any missed opportunities in her care.
Ms Lomas, from Eye Kettleby, near Melton Mowbray in Leicestershire, got a licence to fly a microlight, which is a small aircraft, a few years before the crash.
Lina Zilinskaite, who is a senior producer for Atlantic Productions, which was commissioned by Apple to create the series, said she raised her phone to film Ms Lomas’s landing but instinctively did not press record because “the approach was not quite straight on”.
The witness added: “She veered off the runway then I just heard this noise.”
Ben Ashman, a microlight designer and manufacturer at Flylight Airsports, told the inquest Ms Lomas bought her own aircraft in 2022 or 2023, which the company adapted so there were no controls at her feet.
He said he was concerned Ms Lomas was stressed before the flight because she posted on Facebook about putting her “brave pants” on, which was “unusual” for her.
Mr Ashman, who was also in Jordan at the time, said he spoke to her, adding: “She said ‘let’s do it’. I didn’t want to turn around and say ‘you shouldn’t do it’. I didn’t want to take away her confidence.”
In a statement after the conclusion, Katherine Allen, a partner at Hugh James representing Ms Lomas’s family, said: “The conclusion of the inquest today marks the end of a very difficult, emotional process for Dan (Ms Lomas’s husband) and the wider family following Claire’s untimely death.
“While the inquest has concluded, the family continue to live with the devastating consequences of their loss.
“Claire was deeply loved and her death has left a profound and enduring void in their lives. They will never be the same again following what happened to her.”
Ms Allen said her relatives, who did not attend the inquest, are focused on remembering Ms Lomas.
Former chiropractor Ms Lomas completed the London Marathon in 17 days in 2012 using a “bionic” suit, raising thousands of pounds for the Spinal Research charity.
She was also a motivational speaker and was made an MBE in 2017.