A light aircraft crashed shortly after take-off from Shellharbour Airport in New South Wales on Saturday morning (Oct 11), killing all three people on board.
Emergency responders from Fire and Rescue NSW and the Rural Fire Service (RFS) arrived quickly at the scene, located roughly 85 kilometres south of Sydney. Police confirmed that the aircraft, which burst into flames upon impact, was fully extinguished by firefighters soon after the crash.
According to local media reports, the plane was a Piper Saratoga, owned and piloted by Andrew Connors, and was en route to Bathurst in regional NSW. Witnesses described seeing the plane struggling to gain altitude moments after take-off before plummeting to the runway and catching fire. Videos shared on social media showed the aircraft’s charred wreckage scattered across the tarmac.
Authorities have not yet released the identities of the two passengers. Chief Inspector Wunderlich of NSW Police described the incident as “tragic,” noting that the crash site was “quite a gruesome scene.” He added that multiple witnesses, including staff at the Historical Aircraft Restoration Society (HARS) museum and members of the RFS who were on-site for a training exercise, observed the event. CCTV footage reportedly captured parts of the crash sequence.
Fire and Rescue NSW Inspector Andrew Barber told ABC News that despite the immediate response of RFS members already stationed at the airport, the passengers could not be saved. “Due to the nature of the fuel combustion, the occupants had no chance of survival,” he said.
The Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) has launched an investigation to determine the cause of the crash, with early reports suggesting the aircraft may have failed to reach sufficient altitude after take-off.
The incident underscores persistent safety concerns surrounding light aircraft operations in regional Australia. While the Piper Saratoga is known for reliability, factors such as mechanical failure, overloading, or pilot error remain under investigation. The presence of emergency crews on-site but their inability to save the victims highlights the severity and immediacy of post-crash fires involving aviation fuel. The ATSB’s findings will likely influence future regulatory and training standards for small aircraft operators across the country.
