Five people cheat death after surviving Tooradin plane crash

Five people have miraculously walked away from a light plane crashed in southeast Victoria. Emergency services have lauded the pilot for the lucky escape, praising his safe emergency landing.

Five people are “very lucky” to have walked away with their lives after a light plane crashed near a regional airport southeast of Melbourne on Sunday morning.

The pilot from Skydive South East Melbourne, based at Tooradin Airfield, was taking four passengers up to skydive at about 11.40am when the aircraft failed.

The plane then crash-landed at a nearby property on Woodlot Lane, taking down two fences, a gate and a small gumtree before coming to a stop on its side.

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The CFA at the scene of a plane crash. Picture: Lawrence Pinder

The pilot has been praised for safely landing the craft Picture: Lawrence Pinder

By the time the Tooradin CFA arrived at about 11.55am, all five on-board had gotten themselves out of and away from the plane that was leaking fuel.

The situation could have been a lot worse, according to Tooradin CFA first lieutenant Tony Riley, worked in the area for three decades and seen other similar crashes end with multiple fatalities.

“They were very lucky,” he said.

“They were in shock but they were in reasonably good nick.

“That was surprising.”

“The pilot guided them between trees. They did pretty well really.”

CFA members worked to control the fire danger from the leaking fuel.

“We’ve made the scene safe, dissipating the fuel and covering the fuel with foam,” Mr Riley said.

The cause of the crash is not yet known. Picture: Lawrence Pinder

The passengers were shaken up, but generally well. Picture: Lawrence Pinder

Cranbourne acting sergeant Emily Stephens said the pilot did an “amazing job” in the conditions.

“They have experienced some sort of failure of the aircraft,” she said.

“The pilot has safely performed an emergency landing.

“He (the pilot) has done an absolutely amazing job.”

Acting Sgt Stephens said the passengers, three men and a woman aged in their 20s and 30s, were shaken up but generally well.

“All four occupants and the pilot have walked away uninjured,” she said.

“They are all right. No doubt a bit of shock will set in later but they were talking to us and all working.”

The investigation into the cause of the crash is ongoing. Picture: Lawrence Pinder

Ambulance Victoria spokesman John Mullen said paramedics treated one person for a minor arm injury.

11 people were booked to skydive with the company on Sunday but all flights were cancelled after the crash.

The cause of the crash is not yet understood and the investigating is ongoing.

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