Emergency services respond to plane fire at Emerald Airport

A Central Queensland mayor has praised emergency services and airport staff for their “swift and effective” response to a forced plane landing that saw three people taken to hospital.

A plane was forced to land at Emerald Airport. Picture: Central Highlands Regional Council

Central Highlands mayor Janice Moriarty has praised emergency services and staff at Emerald Airport for their “swift and effective” response to a forced plane landing that saw three people taken to hospital.

The incident involved a 12-seat Cessna F406 undertaking survey work, which reported smoke and fumes in the cabin about 10 minutes from Emerald Airport.

Emergency services, including fire, ambulance, and police, were called to the airport at 3.30pm last Thursday, April 11.

The aircraft, which had three crew members on board, landed safely without incident at the airport.

A plane was forced to land at Emerald Airport on April 11, 2024. Picture: Central Highlands Regional Council

A spokeswoman for Queensland Fire and Emergency Services (QFES) said there was a small amount of smoke in cabin.

The spokeswoman said there was believed to have been a small fire but it was out when the crew arrived on scene and the cabin was ventilated by about 3.55pm, after firefighters conducted ventilation.

A Queensland Ambulance Service (QAS) spokeswoman said paramedics transported three people to Emerald Hospital in stable conditions.

Three people on the aircraft were transported to hospital after exposure to toxic fumes, a Queensland Police Service (QPS) spokeswoman said.

A Central Queensland Hospital and Health Service spokeswoman said all three patients had since been discharged from hospital.

Central Highlands mayor Janice Moriarty.

Ms Moriarty said the incident emphasised the importance of council’s joint Airport Emergency Plan.

“The crew followed protocol and advised Brisbane Air Traffic Control, who in turn alerted our Emerald Airport team, leading to a precautionary emergency services response,” she said.

“Our airport and local emergency services have a joint Airport Emergency Plan to manage all potential incidents, and this plan once again proved invaluable, resulting in an efficient and professional response by all.”

Ms Moriarty extended gratitude on behalf of the council to all parties involved in managing the incident successfully.

Investigations into the cause of the incident are ongoing, with reports being submitted to the Australian Transport Safety Bureau for further analysis.

The QFES spokeswoman said the aircraft fire was not related to a grassfire just outside Emerald.

Three fire crews were fighting the blaze at 4.30pm and two crews were on the way.

They first received a call about the grassfire about 3.45pm.