At least two people have died after a light aircraft crashed into a hangar at Parafield Airport in South Australia on Wednesday afternoon. The incident occurred at 2:10pm local time when a twin-engined Diamond DA42 plane struck a hangar shortly after landing.
South Australia Police confirmed multiple injuries, with one person in a life-threatening condition and two others in a serious condition at the Royal Adelaide Hospital. Emergency services reported that at least ten airport ground crew inside the hangar were taken to hospital with serious burns.
Premier Peter Malinauskas expressed his condolences, stating: 'Two people have lost their lives and a number of others have been injured. My thoughts are with the families and loved ones of those who have passed away.'
Witness Joshua Swannell described the scene: 'The pitch that it took, you could hear it struggle then straight down. I looked up and saw the plane up in the corner – go up, tilt, straight back down, nosedive – over the buildings.'
Metropolitan Fire Service chief officer Jeff Swann noted that the fire was intensified by fuel inside the hangar, and several student pilots had to be escorted out by firefighters. Authorities have urged the public to avoid the area around Parafield Airport as investigations continue.
