‘Gruesome’ plane crash kills husband and wife in huge fireball horror | World | News
Tragedy struck the airport on Saturday after a plane crashed seconds after takeoff. Three friends lost their lives when their small private plane lost altitude and crashed into the runway, catching fire in New South Wales, Australia.
Andrew Connors, 55, and his wife Julianne, 54, were named by local media as two of the three people who tragically died. The third victim is said to be their close friend, 73-year-old Colin McLaughlin, according to local news. The couple leaves behind two children in their 20s. The crash, described by the chief inspector as “appalling” and “appalling”, happened at Shellharbour in the Illawarra region of New South Wales at around 10am local time on Saturday morning. It was understood that the six-seat, single-engine Piper Cherokee Lance plane stalled and lost altitude rapidly after its nose hit the runway and caught fire.
Horrific images from the scene show the wrecked plane on the runway, with only its blue-white tail remaining intact. Lake Illawarra Police District Chief Inspector Aaron Wunderlich told reporters the private plane was heading towards Bathurst and police had access to CCTV footage of the crash.
Chief Inspector Wunderlich said: “I would like to thank the emergency response… They did a fantastic job on a truly horrific scene.” He said all officers involved would be given counseling for their involvement in “a pretty horrific scene”.
“The plane took off on the tarmac and rose approximately 30 meters into the air. At this point, eyewitnesses said that the plane dived with its left wing down and made contact with the tarmac,” he added. “Unfortunately, the plane was swallowed.”
NSW Fire and Rescue Superintendent Andrew Barber said: ABC He reported that the local fire department already at the airport rushed to the scene. “However, due to the nature of the fuel, the exposure to the fuel, the combustion of the fuel, the occupants of the vehicle had no chance of survival,” he added.
News.com.au reported that a close friend described Mr Connors as “one of those guys who would do anything to help someone”.
An Australian Transport Safety Bureau spokesman said four transport safety inspectors specializing in aircraft operations, maintenance and engineering were at the airport to investigate the incident.
“Investigators will carry out a range of evidence gathering activities, including a field survey with a drone, inspection of the wreckage and the recovery of any aircraft components for further examination at the ATSB’s technical facilities in Canberra,” they said. “Investigators will also attempt to interview relevant parties and witnesses and collect relevant recorded information, including flight tracking data, pilot and aircraft maintenance records, and weather information.
“The ATSB would like anyone with video footage of the aircraft before the crash to contact us via the witness form on our website (atsb.gov.au/witness) at the earliest opportunity.”
