Couple Mal Watts and Samantha Nuttall killed in Exmouth plane crash
The couple tragically killed in a plane crash in northwest WA are being remembered as ‘vibrant souls’ and much-loved members of the local community.
The couple tragically killed in a microlight plane crash in northwest Western Australia are being remembered as “vibrant souls” taken far too soon.
Pilot Mal Watts and his wife Samantha Nuttall died on Wednesday evening when their plane crashed in a national park just south of Exmouth.
The much-loved local couple were on a romantic flight above the Cape Range National Park canyon when tragedy struck.
The Exmouth community has been rocked by the news of their deaths as tributes flowed for the pair on social media, who are both believed to be aged in their 50s.
“Two genuinely beautiful people who lived life to the absolute full, died doing something you loved,” friend Geoff Thompson wrote.
“The world has lost two of its best.
“Exmouth as a community will be deeply saddened and shocked by this news, a wound that will hurt for many years.”
Amanda Sattary said Mr Watts and Ms Nuttall were “such vibrant souls taken far, far too soon”.
“Two fantastic, fun loving and genuine people that we were lucky enough to know,”
Kristy Niikkula posted.
“Such a tragedy and one that will take our little town quite some time to move on from.”
Exmouth Shire president Matthew Niikkula said the tragedy had shocked the local community.
“Exmouth is coming to terms with the devastating loss of such a well-known, well-respected, and much-loved long-time local couple,” he told 9 News.
Western Australia Police Inspector Mark Tobiassen said the alarm was raised when the microlight plane failed to return to Exmouth aerodrome at 4.30pm.
He said police initiated a search of the area and located the plane from the air about 6.30pm.
Police walked to the location where the crash was and confirmed that both the pilot and passenger had died.
“We secured that scene and stayed with them through the night and then this morning with the help of the Department of Fire and Emergency Services and the State Emergency Service we recovered both deceased persons,” Inspector Tobiassen said.
He said police didn’t yet know what the caused the crash but a full coronial investigation would be undertaken.
Exmouth is a popular spot for tourism flights and microlight planes.
The couple were avid flyers with Mr Watts listed as an apprentice flight instructor at Birds Eye View Ningaloo.
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