Paralysed campaigner dies in Apple filming microlight crash

Disability campaigner Claire Lomas, aged 44, has died following a microlight aircraft crash in Amman, Jordan. The incident occurred on July 15, five weeks prior to her passing on August 22, from multiple severe traumatic injuries sustained in the crash. At the time of the accident, Lomas was piloting an adapted microlight, filming content for a television series commissioned by Apple to promote their Vision Pro headset.

Lomas, who became paralysed after a horse riding accident in 2007, was a prominent figure known for completing a marathon in 2012 with the aid of a 'bionic' suit. Producers confirmed she was enthusiastic about the Apple project, having obtained a microlight flying license years earlier. The aircraft she was piloting had been specifically adapted to accommodate her inability to use her feet. Despite a previous flight cancellation due to strong winds, and prior test flights without the headset, the fatal landing approach saw the aircraft veer off the runway and strike a large rock.

An inquest heard that Lomas had been excited to return to the UK to see her family, but her health deteriorated rapidly after contracting an infection, which ultimately led to her death. Her family raised concerns regarding the quality of care at the Jordanian hospital, though this was outside the coroner's jurisdiction.