Add Category
Updated
A light plane has crashed into the ocean off the coast of Fraser Island in southern Queensland.
- The Air Fraser plane crashed about 150 metres offshore
- Emergency services swam to the plane and helped the occupants escape
- The two people in the plane made it to shore with minor injuries
Emergency crews were called to Happy Valley at 1:30pm and said the pilot and passenger managed to swim ashore, where paramedics were waiting for them.
They were briefly assessed for minor injuries.
A rescue helicopter picked them up from Fraser Island and flew them to a hospital on the mainland.
Inspector Tony Clowes from Maryborough police patrol group said the Air Fraser plane ditched about 150 metres offshore near Happy Valley, about midway along the island's eastern shore.
"Fortunately, emergency services and police were in the vicinity at the time, so responded very quickly," he said.
"Officers from emergency services attended and were able to swim out to the aircraft and provide assistance to the two occupants who were in the aircraft, and they were brought safely to shore.
The two male occupants were employees of Air Fraser.
"In the circumstances, the outcome here was as good as can be expected," Inspector Clowes said.
The Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) is yet to decide whether it will investigate the crash.
"The ATSB has been notified of a reported ditching of a Cessna 206 light aircraft near Fraser Island, Queensland," a spokesperson said.
"The ATSB is gathering further information into the circumstances of the occurrence ahead of determining whether to conduct a transport safety investigation."
Topics: air-transport, air-and-space, eurong-4581, hervey-bay-4655, brisbane-4000, bundaberg-4670, qld
First posted