{"id":9835,"date":"2023-11-05T07:28:59","date_gmt":"2023-11-05T07:28:59","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/aviation-news.info\/?p=9835"},"modified":"2023-11-05T07:28:59","modified_gmt":"2023-11-05T07:28:59","slug":"investigation-into-deadly-queensland-plane-crash-expected-to-take-weeks-or-longer","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/aviation-news.info\/?p=9835","title":{"rendered":"Investigation into deadly Queensland plane crash expected to take weeks, or longer"},"content":{"rendered":"
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Air aviation news – The investigation into the fatal crash of a firefighting surveillance plane in Queensland could take weeks or even longer, a top official said today.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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The Turbo Commander propeller aircraft, leased from a Victorian aviation company, crashed near Mount Isa, in the state’s north-west yesterday, killing three people.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Queensland Fire and Emergency Services (QFES) today gave an update on the tragic incident.<\/div>\n
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Deputy commissioner Mike Wassing said the three aerial surveillance crew killed in the crash had close connections with rural fire services in Queensland, New South Wales and Victoria.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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“They were part of a very close community … they had worked very closely with our air operations personnel,” he said.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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He said QFES members were impacted by the incident and the organisation was working to support them through a trying time.<\/div>\n
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Wassing said the focus was now switching to getting investigators to the “very remote” crash site in the McKinlay area on the outskirts of Cloncurry.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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He said the Australian Transport Safety Bureau would lead the investigation.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Aviation company AGAIR said one of its Turbo Commander aircraft was involved in the deadly Queensland crash.\u00a0(Nine \/ Supplied)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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But he warned it was likely to “take weeks, if not months” to piece together what happened to the plane which was travelling from Toowoomba to Mt Isa to monitor firefighting operations, duties known as line scans.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Earlier today, Victorian aviation company AGAIR confirmed it was one of its aircraft involved in the fatal incident.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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“During aerial fire surveillance operations an accident occurred with one of our aircraft,” it said in a statement.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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“We are all utterly devastated, and our heartfelt thoughts and prayers are with the families of our staff.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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“Our sincerest gratitude to the first responders and QFES who are providing ongoing assistance to us.”<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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READ MORE:<\/strong>\u00a0Man charged with murder after body found in burnt-out tree trunk<\/strong><\/a><\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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The plane was supporting the Queensland bushfire response by conducting line scans.\u00a0(File photo)<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n
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AGAIR chief executive Rob Boschen said the aircraft was a Turbo Commander, registration VH-HPY.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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“Authorities have confirmed three of our valued, and dearly loved staff were the only occupants of the aircraft, and there were no survivors,” he said.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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“AGAIR will provide full assistance and support to all authorities in the course of their investigations.”<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Emergency crews spent hours travelling to the remote location yesterday in the McKinlay area on the outskirts of Cloncurry after a local resident called police at 2.30pm (3.30pm AEST).<\/div>\n<\/div>\n
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Police said the Rescue 400 helicopter found the wreckage at 4pm (5pm AEST) “in difficult terrain” while ground crews made their way to the site.<\/div>\n<\/div>\n