Airplane Bounces Off River During Far-Too Dangerous Sporting Event

Holy Jesus! Did you see this? An airplane pilot named Matt Hall bounced his plane off the Detroit River Saturday and survived. This happened while he was slaloming through an obstacle course, in front of a crowd (including his poor wife!) as a part of a Red Bull Air Race. This terrible, terrible idea for a sport was hatched at the highly-caffeinated beverage company’s “think tank” in 2001. Earlier this year, Brazilian pilot Adisson Kindlemann crashed into the the Swan River in Perth, Australia. Luckily, he survived, too. It’s very slightly reassuring to know that “any form of dangerous flying,” including “crossing the crowd line” leads to disqualification during the races. But when this death-courting sporting event comes to New York City next weekend, you will not find me anywhere near the Hudson River.