Both the pilot and the student pilot in the aircraft perished Wednesday afternoon after their training aircraft collided with a hangar at Parafield Airport in Adelaide’s north, causing a devastating fire that severely burned ten people on the ground.
According to reports, the twin engine plane had been in the air for just a short while when it collided with Hangar 54, where planes were kept for storage, maintenance and flight training programs.
This happened just after 2pm, and as soon as the aircraft touched the building, it caught fire.
Chief Inspector of South Australia Police Andrew McCracken stated that the two people in the aircraft, a pilot and a student pilot, were dead as a result of the accident.
The two individuals names have not yet been made public.
Out of the ten injured people on the ground, one was in critical condition, two were still battling for their lives at the Royal Adelaide Hospital, and a fourth one at the same hospital was suffering from minor injuries.
Six other people were transported to Lyell McEwin and Modbury hospitals with smoke inhalation injuries.
Also Read: Anti gas protesters rush stage at Perth breakfast ahead of Albanese speech
The fire was difficult to bring under control. Metropolitan Fire Service Chief Officer Jeff Swann said the internal sprinkler system in the hangar had been destroyed and the supply to the fire hydrants had been damaged by the impact.
The fire was fed by a large amount of aviation fuel stored in the building and several other aircraft.
Firefighters, with the help of nearly 60 MFS firefighters, were able to get the blaze under control in about 20 minutes, but the hangar and the planes inside sustained extensive damage.
Smoke warnings have been issued for the nearby suburbs of Parafield and Mawson Lakes, about 18 kilometres north of Adelaide’s CBD.
The director of the ATSB, Angus Mitchell, said that experts from Canberra and Brisbane flew out to the site early on Thursday to analyze debris and gather aircraft parts for technical evaluation.
Mitchell told that the trainer aircraft had been completing a circuit prior to its crash and that it was still unknown if the flight was part of organized training.
Premier of South Australia Peter Malinauskas extended his sympathies and said he had received information from the Police Commissioner.
He expressed appreciation for the efforts of first responders, which he described as swift and heroic in trying conditions.
The crash forced Parafield Airport, one of the busiest general aviation airports in Adelaide, to close to all traffic.
It is the second aviation incident at the airport this year after a learner pilot crashed on take off in January creating a fire with no fatalities.
The police cordon is likely to stay in place for at least 24 hours while the investigation continues.
