Police confirm death of pilot in Queensland Gulf Country plane crash
A 32-year-old Clifton Beach man died following a plane crash in Queensland’s Gulf Country on Friday night.
He was the pilot and sole passenger of a Beechcraft King Air B200, a Machjet International charter plane that crashed 800 meters west of Normanton Airport at around 8pm on Friday evening.
Emergency services were called to the scene on Friday night and an ambulance was still trying to reach the crash site on Saturday due to floodwaters and other hazards in the area.
According to other media reports, the crash site was in a swamp area known to be infested with crocodiles.
A Queensland Police spokesman said in a statement that “initial access to the scene was hindered by challenging conditions, including ongoing weather conditions which prevented access by vehicle or boat”.
“In the early hours of this morning, February 8, officers were able to arrive at the scene on foot and located a deceased individual, a 32-year-old Clifton Beach man believed to be the pilot and sole occupant,” they said.
Police will prepare a report for the Coroner and assist the Australian Transport Safety Bureau with their investigations into the crash.
The tragedy follows news of another fatal plane crash on Friday, in which three men, including two teenagers, died after their Cessna 210 crashed into the ocean at Long Bay in South Australia.
from AAP
