Board Thread:Episode Discussion/@comment-14138255-20160131163802/@comment-6533159-20160131214033

WC-83 wrote: He could have been wounded (or as close as you can in RWBY) but couldn't control the plane to make a soft enough landing, hence my dying theory.

Like Andrews stated, Weiss took on multiple AK-200s flawlessly and she's just a student. Ironwood is a general so I don't think he'll be wounded, not to mention there is Aura.