YIKES!!! Red Bull Pilot Pulls Off Amazing Recovery After Water Collision

Wingtip Grazes Water, But Pilot Matt Hall Recovers

Folks... I really don't know that it gets closer than this... but you gotta wonder what kind of rabbit's foot Australia’s Matt Hall is carrying around.

Matt, you see, had a scare during the first Qualifying session at the Red Bull Air Race in Windsor Ontario, Saturday, when his plane touched the surface of the Detroit River but instead of what usually happens with these things, the former RAAF pilot pulled off an unlikely recovery and returned safely to Race Airport.

Wow... (which we're sure is NOT exactly the words Matt might use to describe this misadventure... but we digress).

(Red Bull Photo)

According to Red Bull Air Race reports, Hall was challenging for the lead in the first of two Qualifying sessions when he stalled out... low... really low... really wet and low. His left wing skimmed the surface of the river that separates the United States and Canada. His right wheel cover hit the water as well but Hall was able to regain control of his MXS-R aircraft and climb up away into the sky.

(Red Bull Photo)

"I felt I was having a fairly good run,” Hall said. “I might have skipped twice on the water. It’s a very disappointing result for me. It’s the motor racing equivalent of touching the wall..." (except that you can't drown hitting the wall).

(Red Bull Photo)

Hall, who flew combat missions with the US Air Force in Iraq, was confident his plane could be repaired in time for Qualifying 2 an hour later. He is hoping to get his third career podium in Windsor and has been in the top three in most training sessions this week.

SEE MORE PHOTOS: Aero-News