Avalon Airshow goes on after pilot seriously injured in crash
A stunt pilot seriously injured in a horror plane crash during an aerobatics display at the Avalon Airshow has been revealed to be a veteran pilot and keen skydiver.
Victoria
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Champion Australian aviation veteran Glenn Collins has been identified as the pilot who crashed at the Avalon Airshow on Friday.
The well-known pilot and keen skydiver was performing an aerobatic stunt when his aircraft nosedived before crashing to the ground in front of shocked spectators.
Mr Collins, in his 50s, suffered both upper and lower body injuries and was airlifted to The Alfred hospital in a critical condition.
The Alfred on Saturday confirmed he was in a serious but stable condition.
He is understood to have suffered serious spinal and pelvic injuries.
Collins, who has won several competitions over his impressive aviation career, performs as part of the Paul Bennet Airshows team.
In a statement on Saturday morning, the airshow team said Collins was surrounded by family in hospital.
“We would like to acknowledge the extraordinary level of support from medical staff, as well as messages of support received from here and around the world,” they wrote.
“Paul Bennet Airshows will not be performing at the Avalon Australian International Airshow but we hope the public continue to enjoy the world-class event.”
Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association of Australia chief executive Benjamin Morgan spoke to Mr Bennet on Saturday morning.
He said the entire team was shaken up but they were thankful Friday’s disaster didn’t end in tragedy.
“Glenn Collins and the SkyAces team are Australian Airshow icons, having entertained hundreds of thousands of aviation spectators and enthusiasts nationwide,” he told the Saturday Herald Sun.
“General aviation is a tight-knit community and family and on behalf of AOPA Australia, I extend our best wishes to Glenn and his family.
“There’s great comfort knowing that he is receiving world-class medical care in Melbourne and (we hope) that he makes a full recovery.
“I would also like to thank the professionalism of the Avalon International Airshow organisers and emergency services first responders for their swift action.”
Mr Collins has previously spoken of the risks associated with his stunt performances.
“It’s perceived to be high risk, but it can be, if it’s allowed to be, but that’s the good part about aviation,” he said in a previous interview.
“We all operate as peers, and if anyone is doing the wrong thing, we’ve generally got someone around that’s willing to let us know and coach us.”
He said his passion and “love” for aviation was immense.
“I got into flying back when I first started working, basically got my first pay cheque and spent it on flying, and ever since, I’ve been in debt to flying,” he added.
“I’ve had breaks in the past where I haven’t been flying for whatever reason, and — just ask my wife — I get itchy feet and I need to get out of the house and into a cockpit.
“(it) doesn’t matter what sort of aeroplane, I just sort of need to go out flying sometimes. I just love the lot.”
The airshow — which was cancelled for the day on Friday following the horror crash — has since resumed.
An announcement at the airshow on Saturday gave an update on Mr Collins’ condition.
It said he was getting the “best possible medical care in the world” because the “medical people who were on the scene immediately yesterday rendered assistance”.
“We saw Glenn choppered to the hospital.
“It was an incredible atmosphere here yesterday after that.
“We are just hoping, praying and wishing that he pulls through and that he will be back in the cockpit again.”
In a statement, the Avalon Airshow said it was working with authorities who conducted initial investigations on Friday night.
“The incident occurred well away from the crowds in attendance and no member of the public was injured,” the statement read.
“The Avalon Australian International Airshow concluded the day’s activities to allow the Australian Transport Safety Bureau investigation team to have full and free access to the site.
“Our thoughts are with the pilot and his family, friends and team members.”
One airshow attendee said the plane was attempting to pull out of a dive when it hit the ground at an angle.
“Everyone was exclaiming at the manoeuvre and then suddenly there were gasps and yells as everyone realised it was going way too fast and it was way too low,” he said.
“I saw the pilot jerk the stick back and the plane tried to pull up hard but it was too late.
“The tail impacted and I saw it separate from the body of the aircraft and the wreckage slipped on to the other side of the runway berm and out of view.”
Herald Sun photographer David Caird, who witnessed and shot the crash on Friday, said the crowd was in disbelief.
“I was photographing the Paul Bennet stunt display when I started tracking one of the planes coming down to do a reverse roll,” he recounted.
“I had a 600mm lens, so I was rather close on to him, and suddenly he just disappeared out of my frame.
“By the time I dropped my lens down low enough to find where he was, to my horror and disbelief he had hit the ground and was skidding along and rolling.”
The ATSB will continue their investigation over the weekend.
Paul Bennet’s team said they were thankful for the support since Friday afternoon.
Other pilots for the team include Glenn Graham, Jesse Jury, Tim Dugan, Sam Perceval, Pete Stewart and Phillip Lee, as well as Paul Bennet.
“We confirm there has been an incident involving one of our long time Sky Aces pilots during today’s aerobatic display at the Avalon Australian International Airshow,” a statement read.
“Our thoughts are with his family and we are grateful for the emergency services who responded quickly.
“Our team and families appreciate the well-wishes and support.”
The Herald Sun has been told there were no flames or smoke — just a “big bang” when the plane hit the turf.
The accident happened immediately in front of the spectator area and corporate boxes about 5.15pm.
Nick Broughton, from Sydney, was at the airshow on Friday afternoon when Mr Collins crashed.
He said that he saw the “big cloud of dust and something orange tumbling through the dust” before the crowd went “dead silent”.
“I’ve been to quite a lot of airshows before. It’s something you never really expect to happen,” he said.
“I was also wondering if the pilot was alive, if he was OK. Because my initial reaction was that it looked like he might not have hit the ground too hard so he might have survived.”
Mr Broughton said he thought that the trick being attempted before the crash was a series of barrel rolls before pulling into a “split-S”.
“It looked like to me that potentially, when he started doing the barrel, he’d been pointing a bit more down than he normally would have,” he said.
Andrew Evans came to the airshow from Ingleburn in south-west Sydney and said he was watching the stunt show when he saw the plane dive, before “a puff of dust” emerged.
“It just turned to my neighbour and said, oh s**t, he just crashed,” said Mr Evans.
He said a hush immediately came over the crowd.
“Just being there and seeing it in person was a bit of a shock,” he said.
Both Mr Evans and Mr Broughton said that ambulances responded immediately and after almost an hour it was announced that Mr Collins had survived.
Witnesses also took to social media to express their horror.
“I feel sick. Plane crashed at airshow,” one user wrote on X.
Another added: “Just saw an acrobatic plane go down at the Avalon airshow. Prayers to the pilot”.
Another onlooker said the horrifying crash appeared to go in slow motion.
“It’s terrible,” he said.
“It literally happened in front of me.
“It was like it happened in slow motion.”
It is understood that one Jetstar flight due to land at Avalon Airport was diverted to land at Tullamarine due to wreckage on the runway.
Originally published as Avalon Airshow goes on after pilot seriously injured in crash
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