PILOT CRITICALLY INJURED IN HORRIFIC AVALON AIRSHOW CRASH
Photo Credit: Associated Press
A pilot was seriously injured after losing control of his aircraft during an aerobatic display at the Avalon Australian International Airshow on Friday, March 28. The crash, which occurred at around 5:15 p.m. local time at Avalon Airport, southwest of Melbourne, left spectators in shock as the plane plummeted to the ground.
According to Victoria Police, the pilot, who was the sole occupant of the aircraft, suffered critical injuries. “The incident occurred a significant distance away from spectators, and there have been no reports of further injuries,” police confirmed.
Footage from the airshow shows the aircraft appearing to lose control during a loop before crashing into the tarmac. The plane is believed to have been part of the Paul Bennett Aerobatics team, according to reports. The Avalon Australian International Airshow released a statement confirming the incident, stating, “The aircraft was conducting an aerobatic maneuver and hit the ground. The pilot is in a serious but stable condition and has been transferred to hospital for treatment.”
Eyewitnesses described the horrifying scene. Student pilot Taj Cooper, 20, told The Sydney Morning Herald, “We’ve watched and seen quite a lot of aviation incidents … and we talked to each other that I hope he does survive, but that was a really hard crash landing.” Spectator Geoff Crane, who witnessed the crash, described the tense moments following the impact: “It really looked like the guy died – or could well have died. It was a very violent tumble.” He added that the crowd remained in stunned silence for 40 minutes, deeply affected, with some hugging and crying, waiting fornews about the pilot’s condition.
The airshow was immediately halted to allow the Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) to investigate. Organizers, including Justin Giddings from the AMDA Foundation, stated, “We are continuing with preparations to recommence the airshow tomorrow morning, subject to confirmation this evening. Our thoughts are with the pilot and his family, friends, and team members.”
Despite the tragic incident, the airshow, which attracts nearly 250,000 spectators, was set to resume the following day.