Pilot’s widow urges air traffic controller to ‘take ownership’ for tragedy

The widow of a pilot killed in a mid-air collision in central Victoria says the air traffic controller who was overseeing the airspace should take some accountability for the tragedy.

The widow of a pilot killed in a mid-air collision says an air traffic controller overseeing the airspace where it occurred should take some accountability for the tragedy.

Pilots Chris Gobel, 79, Pasinee Meeseang, 27, Peter Phillips, 47, and Ido Segev, 30, were killed when their two light planes collided about 8km south of Mangalore Airport in central Victoria.

The plane carrying Mr Phillips and Mr Segev, VH-AEM, was descending while the other aircraft with Mr Gobel and Ms Meeseang, VH-JQF, was ascending when they crashed into each other at about 4100 feet on February 19, 2020.

A four-day inquest at the Coroners Court heard air traffic controller John Tucker, who was monitoring the airspace at the time, received multiple alerts about the aircraft’s trajectories in the minutes before the crash but did not issue a safety alert.

Ido Segev’s fiancée Brianna Sutcliffe fought back tears as she told the inquest she was planning to marry in the months after the crash. Picture: Nicki Connolly

Mr Tucker, who is employed by Airservices Australia, told the court he did not warn the aircraft because he believed they were communicating with each other and “sorting themselves out”.

On Thursday, the final day of the inquest, Mr Phillips’ widow Fiona said data from her husband’s electronic watch did not show a heart rate spike before the collision, indicating he was unaware of what was about to happen.

“Based on the data I read, the most he exerted himself was walking to the plane,” she said.

She said she did not believe Mr Tucker intended for the collision to happen but he needed to take some accountability.

The scene of the crash near Mangalore Airport in central Victoria.

“The only call that needed to take place ... was ‘AEM confirm you have JQF sighted’,” she said.

“It’s inconceivable to think that four pilots knew there was a risk and did nothing to mitigate it.

“You have accountability in this event, and I’d like you to take some ownership for it.”

Mr Tucker had earlier told the inquest air traffic controllers were “desensitised” to trajectory alerts due to the large volume they received and most were false or nuisance alerts.

He maintained he followed correct procedures and it was up to aircraft to communicate and ensure safe distances from each other.

The inquest is investigating the factors that led to the tragedy including the role of air traffic control, safety practices in different airspaces and whether collision warning technology should be mandatory.

The inquest is investigating the factors that led to the tragedy including the role of air traffic control. Picture: Mark Stewart

On Thursday, Mr Gobel’s youngest son, Martin Gobel — whose brother was also killed in an aircraft incident — said there had been no changes to aviation safety procedures since the accident.

“There’s been no acknowledgement of responsibility and distinct lack of accountability,” he said.

“Rather than a proactive pursuit of safety enhancements ... all we have been witness to is an absolute determination by the authorities to defend their actions and inactions on the day at all costs.”

In her impact statement, Mr Segev’s fiancée Brianna Sutcliffe fought back tears as she told the inquest they were planning to marry in the months after the crash and start a family after he completed his pilot training.

“This accident has ruined my life and taken my most valuable possession away,” she said.

State Coroner Judge John Cain will hand down his findings at a later date.