Pilot injured in plane crash near popular Kimberley Region

A pilot has been injured after making an emergency landing on an emergency runway.

Passengers on board a Western Australian charter plane have walked away unharmed after a pilot made a daring emergency landing on a remote highway.

The passengers of a charter plane which was forced to crash land on remote highway in northern Western Australia have been lucky to walk away unharmed.

The Cessna 310 aircraft was coming into land at the airport at Derby, more than 2000km from Perth, when it crashed shortly after 3pm on Tuesday, WA Police said.

Nine News reports the pilot was forced to use the Derby Hwy, 2km south of town, as an emergency runway, with police and emergency services sent to the scene.

A Cessna 310 aircraft which crashed outside Derby Airport. Picture: Channel 9

The pilot, a man believed to be in his 20s, was rushed to Derby Hospital with serious but non-life threatening injuries, while the other two passengers were unharmed.

An Australian Transport Safety Bureau spokesman told the ABC on Tuesday the circumstances surrounding the crash would be investigated by the aviation watchdog.

“The ATSB will investigate the forced landing of a Cessna 310 aircraft on the highway southeast of Derby on Tuesday afternoon following a reported double engine failure,” he said.

Derby is home to more than 3000 people and is used as a launching-pad for tourism in the popular Kimberley Region, known for its natural splendour, throughout May to September.