NSW Labor demands more information after release of report into fatal 2020 Snowy Mountains crash

A politician has demanded an answer to a crucial question after three Americans were killed in a horror plane crash in NSW.

A NSW Labor MP has demanded to know who ordered a firefighting plane to fly over a huge Snowy Mountains blaze in 2020 before a crash that killed three Americans.

A report into the January 23, 2020, crash found this week that the crew of the large air tanker had not been told crucial information by the NSW Rural Fire Service before setting off on its fatal mission during the Black Summer bushfires.

The Australian Transport Safety Bureau said the crews of two other planes – including a Boeing 737, a large aircraft – had warned of unsafe conditions in the area before the C-130 Hercules carrying the three US firefighters was dispatched to a fireground at Good Good.

Three US firefighters died when the Hercules plane crashed. Picture: NSW Police / ATSB

One crew, flying a recon plane known as a birddog, had declined to survey the area due to the rough conditions.

The report stated an unnamed RFS officer said during an 11am conference call the Boeing 737 should be sent to the area irrespective of the conditions. The officer allegedly said “it can bomb by itself if need be” and there was no need to “wait for the birddog assessment”.

The report was discussed at a budget estimates hearing on Friday.

“Someone in that room said ‘don’t worry about it, they can bomb without the birddog’ and sent them down there without the information,” Labor MP Mark Buttigieg told RFS Commissioner Rob Rogers.

“Can you tell me who was in that room at that time?”

The crash happened as crews were fighting large bushfires in the Snowy Mountains region. Picture: Sam Mooy/Getty Images

“I can't tell you who was on that call, to be honest,” Mr Rogers replied.

He added it was “possible” he had been on the call himself and the decision to send the large plane down was “nothing out of the ordinary”.

When Mr Buttigieg pushed back, saying it wasn't justified to do so if it was unsafe, Mr Rogers said, “I’m sorry, I didn’t realise you were an expert in that.”

Mr Buttigieg asked the responsible minister, Emergency Services Minister Steph Cooke, to find out the identity of the official referenced in the report.

“I will take whatever we can on notice,” she replied.