Police confirm death of pilot in Queensland Gulf Country plane crash
A 32-year-old Clifton Beach man has died after a plane crash in Queensland’s Gulf Country on Friday night.
He was the pilot and sole occupant of the Beechcraft King Air B200, a Machjet International charter aircraft, that went down 800 metres west of Normanton Airport about 8pm on Friday.
Emergency services were called to the scene on Friday night and ambulance were still trying to gain access to the crash site on Saturday due to floodwaters and other hazards in the region.
According to other media, the crash site was in a marsh area known to be infested with crocodiles.
In a statement, a Queensland Police spokesperson said “initial access to the scene was hindered by challenging conditions, including ongoing weather, which prevented access by vehicle or boat”.
“Early this morning, 8 February, officers were able to access the scene on foot and one deceased person was located, believed to be the pilot and sole occupant, a 32-year-old Clifton Beach man,” they said.
Police will prepare a report for the Coroner and assist the Australian Transport Safety Bureau with their investigations into the crash.
The tragedy follows news of another fatal plane crash on Friday, when three men – two of them teenagers – died after their Cessna 210 crashed into the ocean at Long Bay in South Australia.
With AAP
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