A tragic plane crash at Parafield Airport in north Adelaide has claimed two lives and left 10 others injured, with several suffering severe burns. The incident occurred on Wednesday afternoon when a Diamond DA42 twin-engined aircraft crashed into a hangar shortly after takeoff.
Details of the Crash
The aircraft burst into flames upon impact with hangar 54 at approximately 2:10 PM local time (5:40 AM BST). Police confirmed that the pilot and passenger were killed, while all 10 injured individuals were ground crew inside the hangar at the time of the accident. Thick black smoke billowed from the scene, prompting authorities to urge nearby residents to stay indoors with windows and doors closed.
Injuries and Response
Chief Inspector Andrew McCracken reported that one person suffered life-threatening burns and was transported to Royal Adelaide Hospital. Two others were hospitalized with serious injuries, one with minor injuries, and six sustained smoke inhalation. All injured were in the hangar during the crash. McCracken described the event as a tragic situation for the victims and the close-knit Parafield community.
Witness Ben, who was near the airport, told ABC Radio Adelaide that he saw a large fire in the hangar with multiple fire trucks responding. He noted the gable front doors billowing black smoke and visible fuel.
Investigation Underway
The Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) has launched an investigation. Chief Commissioner Angus Mitchell stated that a team of transport safety investigators specializing in aircraft operations, maintenance, engineering, human factors, and survival factors has been deployed from Canberra and Brisbane. They are expected to arrive on Thursday morning to conduct evidence-gathering activities, including site and wreckage examination, and recovery of aircraft components for further analysis at ATSB’s technical facilities in Canberra.
