Frankston MP Paul Edbrooke hospitalised after plane crash

The state MP was one of several people rushed to hospital after a light aircraft crashed moments after taking off from a runway.

A Victorian MP is one of seven people in hospital after a pilot was forced to execute an emergency landing moments after taking off from Barwon Heads airport in Victoria.

Emergency services were called to Barwon Heads Rd, near Lake Connewarre, about 8am on Friday following reports of a crash.

The aircraft took off about 7.50am and was only in the air briefly before making an emergency landing in Connewarre. The pilot and 16 others were on-board the aircraft.

A plane has crashed off the runway at Barwon Heads airport. Picture: Today

Emergency services on the scene. Picture: Today

Seven people were taken to hospital with non life-threatening injuries.

Among them was Frankston MP Labor MP for Frankston Paul Edbrooke, who has now provided a heartwarming update from his hospital bed.

A post on social media revealed Mr Edbrooke was still in hospital undergoing tests but would be “back to work in no time”.

He was snapped giving a thumbs up to the camera as he lay on a hospital bed in a neck brace, hooked up to various machines.

Despite continuing to undergo tests in hospital, Mr Edbrooke said he would soon return to work. Picture: Twitter/X

Victorian Premier Jacinta Allan shared the image of Mr Edbrooke to her own X (formerly Twitter) account.

“Very relieved to be able to report that Paul is doing okay,” she said.

“Sending my best to all the other passengers, and a huge thanks to our amazing emergency workers, as always.”

Mr Edbrooke reassured his constituents that he was okay following the shock crash.

“Given the circumstances, I might go and buy a lotto ticket,” he told the ABC.

“As always, our first responders were incredible. They never hesitate to swing into action and save lives every day.”

Labor Frankston MP Paul Edbrooke was on board the plane that made an emergency landing. Picture: Supplied / Facebook

A man in his 30s was flown to the Alfred in a stable condition with upper body injuries.

Six other patients were taken to Geelong University Hospital, all in a stable condition.

It’s understood the plane “got into difficulty” before crashing, police said.

A Country Fire Authority spokesperson said: “Crews discovered aircraft ran off the end of the runway”.

Investigations into the exact circumstances of the incident remain ongoing.

Plane crashes on banks of Lake Connewarre … police say it was carrying parachutists …. Everyone survived. It had just left Barwon Heads airport. pic.twitter.com/sqAQLhqPQv

— Damon Johnston (@damonTheOz) October 19, 2023

Aerial photographs from the scene show the light aircraft coming to rest in a grassy field beside the runway, with the nose of the plane broken off from the body.

Emergency service crews worked together to triage the incident, including five country fire units alongside Fire Rescue Victoria and SES.

A single ambulance is parked on the grassland with at least a dozen emergency responders on the ground.

The incident was deemed under control and safe by 10.10am.

Originally published as Frankston MP Paul Edbrooke hospitalised after plane crash