Three people have died after a light plane crashed shortly after takeoff at Shellharbour airport near Wollongong, New South Wales, on Saturday morning. The aircraft departed around 10am and was bound for Ballarat when it crashed and caught fire.
Police chief inspector Aaron Wunderlich of Lake Illawarra police district said the plane was a private aircraft carrying three adults of a similar age group, who have not yet been formally identified. He described the scene as 'gruesome' and estimated that 10 to 15 people may have witnessed the crash, which occurred during an open day at the airport's aviation museum. The plane was not part of the event.
Fire and Rescue NSW inspector Andrew Barber told the ABC that a local Rural Fire Service unit, which was conducting training at the airport at the time, rushed to help but found the occupants had no chance of survival due to fuel combustion. The plane was broken into multiple pieces by the impact.
Katelin McInerney, the local Labor MP for Kiama, called the news 'devastating' and offered thoughts to the families and first responders. Police will provide counselling to witnesses and first responders, while the Australian Transport Safety Bureau has been notified and a full investigation is underway.
