Rhiley and Maree Kuhrt killed after plane crashed in Central Queensland

The families of a young couple and their unborn baby girl killed in a plane crash have broken their silence, revealing they are “absolutely heartbroken and utterly grief stricken”.

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The families of a young stockman and his pregnant wife killed in a plane crash in Central Queensland have broken their silence via an online fundraiser, revealing the name of the couple’s unborn baby.

Rhiley Kuhrt, 22, his wife Maree, 24, and their unborn daughter died when their Piper Cherokee crashed halfway up Mount Hector Range in a storm on Sunday afternoon.

Authorities located the wreckage about 10.15am Monday, with specialist police arriving at the scene today to plan the recovery mission.

Maree and Rhiley Kuhrt died in a plane crash near Proserpine. Picture: Supplied Instagram

Mr Kuhrt’s sister Beccarah Markham-Gaudion has launched a GoFundMe for the couple’s “grief stricken” families.

“On Sunday the 2nd of April, my brother Rhiley, his wife Maree, and their beautiful unborn baby girl Phoebe tragically lost their lives during a routine flight to see family,” she wrote.

“We are all absolutely heartbroken and utterly grief stricken. 3 incredible lives were cut way too short,

“Whilst we grieve and try to seek comfort in each other, we ask for your help and support us in covering costs for Rhiley, Maree, and angel baby Phoebe’s funerals.

“We would like to thank you all for your condolences, sympathies, and ongoing support during this dark time in our lives. We appreciate it more than you know.”

Rhiley Kuhrt was on a light aircraft that vanished in Central Queensland on Sunday afternoon. Picture: Supplied

Mr and Mrs Kuhrt left Natal Downs station, about 430km west of Mackay, on Sunday afternoon heading to Lakeside Airpark at Bloomsbury where they were to be picked up by family.

Mackay police district inspector Andrew Godbold said the plane “got into some difficulties” during a storm.

“They would have faced with a lot of showers, a lot of thunder and probably visibility down to next to nothing,” he said.

It comes as social media footage emerged of Mr Kuhrt, a self-described “bush-pilot” flying over fields of sorghum in the days leading up to the crash.

Rhiley and Maree Kuhrt became engaged in June 2021. Picture: Facebook / Maree Kuhrt

Another eerie video shows Mr Kuhrt flying over ranges to the music “White Flag” by Bishop Briggs.

The lyrics “I’d rather die … Than give up the fight, give up the fight” play as Mr Kuhrt films himself flying the plane.

It is understood Mr Kuhrt had purchased the Piper Cherokee in October of 2022, just days after the couple were married.

The couple was travelling to Proserpine for a medical appointment. Photo Supplied

A heartbreaking photo of Mr and Mrs Kuhrt next to the plane was posted on social media on October 9, 2022 with the caption “new addition to the family pixie the plane”.

Mrs Kuhrt responded to the post at the time with “So proud of us, this is a new chapter”.

Inspector Godbold said Mr Kuhrt, who was head stockman at Natal Downs, “had a number of flying hours up” and had flown that particular route before.

“But for some reasons they’ve gone back towards the range area,” he said.

RACQ CQ Rescue are performing an aerial search around Bloomsbury for a reported missing plane. Picture: FlightAware

Friends and family have taken to social media to share tributes to the “beautiful couple”.

“My heart is breaking for you and your families, just days ago we were talking about how exciting it’s going to be raising our children together,” a friend wrote.

Maree and Rhiley Kuhrt on their wedding day.

“You were honestly a beautiful couple and deserved nothing but happiness but that got taken away from you all of a sudden. You were going to be parents in a short amount of time. I will cherish the memories and moments we had working together last year. I love you both to the moon and back,” another friend wrote.

RACQ CQ Rescue has been called to help search for a plane that is overdue at Bloomsbury. Picture: RACQ CQ Rescue

On Saturday, Mrs Kuhrt posted about the impending arrival of their “baby girl”.

“27 weeks now! Getting closer and closer to meeting our baby girl,” she wrote.

It is understood the couple were travelling to Proserpine for a medical appointment at the local hospital.

Mr and Mrs Kuhrt were due to arrive at Lakeside Airpark, Bloomsbury, about 5.30pm Sunday.

The aircraft was reported missing by concerned family members about 6.30pm, sparking a large-scale aerial search.

Specialist police units have been called in to recovery the body of Mr and Mrs Kuhrt, with the area accessible only by helicopter.

Inspector Godbold said authorities were trying to work out the best way to access the crash site.

“It’s very difficult for us even just to walk in at this stage,” he said.