In a stunning display of officialdom confirming what the evidence suggests, a coroner has ruled that the death of disability campaigner Claire Lomas was an accident. Lomas, 44, died on 22 August 2024 from severe traumatic injuries sustained five weeks earlier when the microlight she was piloting for an Apple Vision Pro promo video decided to become one with a rock in Amman, Jordan, on 15 July.

The inquest heard that the Royal Aero Sports Club of Jordan found no violations of safety procedures, and the 180-degree camera mounted on the aircraft wasn't to blame. Because, naturally, the first thing you think of when a plane crashes is whether the camera caused it.

There was also some concern about Lomas's confidence before the flight. Ben Ashman, a microlight designer whose company adapted the aircraft so Lomas could fly without using her feet, noted she posted about putting her 'brave pants' on, which he found 'unusual'. Because when you're about to fly a microlight for a tech giant's headset promo, what could possibly be stressful?

Senior coroner Louise Pinder recorded the death as accidental, describing the final approach: the aircraft wasn't aligned, Lomas aborted the landing, touched down firmly, veered left, hit gravel, and collided with rocks about 10 metres from the road. She added there was no evidence linking risk assessment deficiencies to her death, and that lessons have been learnt. Because that's what we say when someone dies in a bizarre accident.

The family, through lawyer Katherine Allen, expressed that this marks the end of a difficult process and that they continue to live with devastating consequences. Claire, who raised over £900,000 for the Nicholls Spinal Injury Foundation and was the first person to finish the London Marathon in a 'bionic' suit in 2012, will be remembered for her extraordinary achievements and, now, for this tragic footnote.