Plane crashes to the ground during airshow in Australia; pilot critically injured

A pilot in his 50s was critically injured when his plane crashed on the tarmac in the middle of an aerial demonstration at an air show near Melbourne on Friday. The incident took place at the Avalon airport, southwest of Melbourne, during the Avalon Australian International Airshow.

The crash happened before a crowd of spectators who were attending the first public day of the event. The pilot was the sole occupant of the small aircraft.

Pilot airlifted to Melbourne hospital

Following the crash, he was airlifted to Melbourne's Alfred Hospital, Ambulance Victoria said. Footage aired by local media outlets showed the plane going into a vertical loop, ostensibly as part of a planned manoeuvre, and crashing onto the ground while diving towards the tarmac. The aircraft was a part of the Paul Bennet Aerobatics Team.


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Here's what eyewitnesses on Melbourne plane crash

"He didn't just nosedive, like he kind of hit his belly," an eyewitness was quoted as saying by the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC). The person, named Andrew Pearce, also said that the planes flown by other Paul Bennet members continued to remain in the air as they were unsure if it was safe to land.

"I was sort of more watching the three, but the one that was by itself caught my eye," Geoff Crane, another spectator at the airshow, stated. The pilot sustained serious injuries in the upper and lower body, The Sydney Morning Herald reported citing Ambulance Victoria's statement.

Taking note of the crash, the Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) said it was deploying a team of specialists to probe the incident. ATSB Chief Commissioner Angus Mitchell said the investigators would go through the available flight tracking data, pilot and aircraft maintenance logs, and weather data as part of the probe, ABC said in its report. The identity of the pilot involved in the crash was not released immediately.

Official statement by the organisers

In an official statement, AMDA Foundation, which organises the Avalon Australian International Airshow, said the pilot was in a serious but stable condition. AMDA CEO Justin Giddings said the crash occurred "well away" from the audience, adding that no one from the public was injured. The day's activities were suspended in order to let ATSB have full and free access to the site, AMDA Foundation added.

The communique further said that preparations were underway to resume the airshow on Saturday morning. The resumption would, however, be subject to "confirmation this evening", it added. "Our thoughts are with the pilot and his family, friends and team members," AMDA Foundation stated.

FAQs

Where was the airshow being held?
The Avalon Australian International Airshow was being held at the Avalon airport near Melbourne.

What did the authorities say about the pilot?
Ambulance Victoria said the pilot sustained serious injuries, as per the authorities.