Richard Hammond Marks 20th Anniversary of Jet Dragster Crash

Former Top Gear presenter Richard Hammond has marked the 20th anniversary of the near-fatal crash that seriously injured him, expressing his heartfelt gratitude to the emergency services. The incident occurred in September 2006 at Elvington airfield, near York, when the jet-powered Vampire dragster Hammond was driving veered off the track at an estimated speed of 320 mph (515 km/h) during filming for the BBC show.

In an Instagram post, Hammond reflected on the events of that day, stating, "Twenty years ago today, I came to an abrupt stop upside down in a Yorkshire field, convinced I was about to die." He recalled attempting to steer the vehicle away from disaster and pulling the lever to release its parachute before accepting his fate. Hammond conveyed his "forever grateful" sentiment to all those who assisted him in the aftermath of the crash.