Filed under: Motorsports, Renault
Alonso escapes Kenyan plane crash unhurt
Perhaps Fernando Alonso should stick to the ground. After all, he's considered to be one of, if not the, best drivers in all of Formula 1, which many consider to be the pinnacle of motorsports. Sure, F1 racing isn't necessarily the safest career choice in the world, but it may seem like the more responsible play after Alonso's private plane suffered a mild crash in Kenya on Sunday. Italy's Corriere della Sera newspaper says that Alonso's plane wing had a minor run-in with an airport terminal building as it was readying for takeoff, but there were no injuries reported.
According to reports, the Spanish driver was in Kenya to take part in a New Year's party that was hosted by Flavio Briatore, the managing director for Renault's Formula 1 efforts (sounds suspiciously like your New Year's too, eh?). It seems that while the accident wasn't particularly serious, Alonso, his wife and his brother-in-law needed to postpone their return home until Monday.
Side note: After commenting on this crash, Alonso's manager is again quoted as suggesting that his client has a longstanding interest in getting a shot at the driver's seat for Ferrari, yet Alonso is contracted with Renault through 2010. Hat tip to reader Dan!
[Source: Yahoo Eurosport UK - Photo: Mark McArdle CC 2.0]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Mr.Oak 5:39PM (1/05/2009)
Dammit. Just Kidding.
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Autblogist! 5:46PM (1/05/2009)
Mr. Oak, you beat me to it. LOL
RDL 12:08AM (1/06/2009)
Dammit. I Kid You Not!
pmiddle5 5:48PM (1/05/2009)
Why do Formula1 drivers tend to be involved in these sort of things??
David Coulthard prior to this but both pilots were killed.
Pretty sure I use hear stories of Gilles Villeneuve getting himself into a slight helicopter crash or two with his antics or at the minimum "pushing right to the edge or running outta fuel before landing."
most recently on the sad thing though not Formula1, Colin McRae...
I dont think I ever wanna fly on a private charter!
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Kit Fox 6:00PM (1/05/2009)
Because they tend to fly around alot more than common people.
Mobius_1 5:58PM (1/05/2009)
Guess airport queues and bureaucracy like the rest of us is just too slow for them.
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ANTCEP 6:03PM (1/05/2009)
shame
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Miguel 6:05PM (1/05/2009)
seriously? this is news? it sounds like his wing clipped a building BEFORE they even reached the runway? can this even be considered an accident if they werent on the runway yet?
This is the equivalent of bumping into a trash can pulling out of your driveway in the morning. ALERT THE NEWS!!!
is there a "who cares" tag this can be filed under?
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ken_aisin 7:20PM (1/05/2009)
I agree. This article definitely needs a "who cares" tag, especially when it's about Alonso during the off season.
hashiryu 8:45PM (1/05/2009)
x2........ seriously wtf autoblog.
Franz 6:52PM (1/05/2009)
Doesn't sound like much of a "crash", but I'm glad nothing happened to him anyways. He's not my favorite person, but he's a helluva driver... talented and entertaining to watch. F1 would have definitely lost one of it's best.
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Randy915 8:04PM (1/05/2009)
POWER THIRRRRSTTT!!!!!
(Youtube: "Power Thirst" if you don't get it.
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Kalle 4:11AM (1/06/2009)
BTW:
"It seems that the plane took a blow while they were parking it," said Luis Garcia Abad. "Fernando wasn't even inside the aircraft."
http://uk.eurosport.yahoo.com/06012009/58/alonso-plane-crash-story-rubbished.html
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dukeisduke 10:39AM (1/06/2009)
No thanks, I'd rather not see Fernando Alonso's impersonation of Graham Hill (obscure, tangential Monty Python reference).
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B. Villa 8:55PM (1/22/2009)
"""Why do Formula1 drivers tend to be involved in these sort of things?? """"
If you had ever travelled in Kenya, you would know it's not very safe, I had friends you fly (who have no business having pilot licenses)
On another note, does anybody know why he was there???
I'm assuming that he was in Malinda staying at his current bosses Hotel?? Yes - No?
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