Full Breakdown
Coroner Rules Claire Lomas’s Microlight Crash Accidental
8/21/2026, 12:46:10 AM
Core Event
On 15 July 2024, Claire Lomas, a 44-year-old disability campaigner from Eye Kettleby, Leicestershire, was piloting a specially adapted microlight in Jordan when the aircraft “veered off the runway” during the final approach and struck a large rock. She sustained multiple severe traumatic injuries and was evacuated to King Hussein Medical Centre in Amman. The coroner’s inquest, held at County Hall in Glenfield, concluded that her death, recorded later in August 2024, was accidental.
Background & Context
Lomas became paralysed from the chest down after a 2007 horse-riding accident. She later raised over £925,000 for the Nicholls Spinal Injury Foundation and was the first person to complete the 2012 London Marathon in a ReWalk suit, earning an MBE in 2017. In 2024 she was selected by Apple to film aerial footage for a Vision Pro virtual-reality series, coordinated by Atlantic Productions.
Data & Statistics
- Fundraising total for the Nicholls Spinal Injury Foundation: £925,000.
- Marathon achievement: London Marathon completed in 17 days using a ReWalk suit (2012).
- Flight duration on the day of the crash: ? 15 minutes before the landing attempt.
Official Statements & Responses
Senior coroner Louise Pinder recorded the death as accidental, noting that Lomas made a split-second decision to abort the landing when the aircraft was not perfectly aligned, but the microlight touched down, veered left, and collided with rocks. Pinder added that the Royal Aero Sports Club of Jordan found no violation of ground or air safety procedures and that there was no evidence the 180-degree camera affected the flight.
The coroner also noted that the family raised concerns about the quality of medical care received in Jordan, but there was “insufficient evidence” to determine whether any treatment opportunities were missed.
Verbatim Quotes
- “The aircraft collided with rocks approximately 10 metres from the metalled road surface, as a result of which she sustained multiple traumatic injuries.” — Ms Pinder
- “Claire was deeply loved and her death has left a profound and enduring void in their lives.” — Ms Allen, a partner at Hugh James representing the family
What’s Next
The coroner’s report recommends that “lessons be learned” from the investigation, though no specific regulatory changes have been announced. Apple and Atlantic Productions have not issued a public statement regarding future safety protocols for similar filming projects.
