One man dead and a woman rescued following Fogg Dam aircraft crash
Dramatic footage has emerged following the crash of an ultralight aircraft into the croc-infested waters of Fogg Dam on Sunday morning, sparking a multi-force rescue effort to save the sole survivor. See the video.
Northern Territory
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An ultralight aircraft crashed into croc-infested waters on Sunday morning, sparking a multi-force rescue effort to save the sole survivor.
The first reports of the crash were received by NT Police about 10.20am, leading a team of police, ambulance, CareFlight and Parks and Wildlife crews to attend the scene at Fogg Dam.
There they found a 29-year-old woman stranded on top of the floating aircraft about 200m from the nearest land.
In the aircraft was the body of a 63-year-old man — the pilot of the aircraft.
Acting Assistant Commissioner Peter Malley detailed the daring rescue of the woman.
“I don’t think anybody was going swimming in there because of the crocs,” Commissioner Malley said.
“That’s why the lady was winched from the tail of the aircraft by the CareFlight helicopter.”
The footage shows the helicopter hovering over the woman with a rescue rope while a boat — believed to belong to Parks and Wildlife — tries to reach the scene.
Commissioner Malley said the woman was then taken down to the bank where she was treated by St John Ambulance paramedics and taken to Royal Darwin Hospital for “observations”.
As for the cause of the man’s death, Commissioner Malley said it was yet to be confirmed.
“It could have been a medical episode, death on impact or drowning — but until we do the post-mortem we won’t know for certain,” he said.
Because this was a ultralight aircraft crash, Commissioner Malley said NT Police would be the “lead agency” in the investigation.
This was confirmed by an Australian Transport Safety Bureau spokesman who said investigations of ultralight aircraft incidents was not within its remit.
The investigation is ongoing and as of Monday morning, the aircraft remained in the waters of Fogg Dam.
The Parks and Wildlife website also says Fogg Dam remains closed until January 15.
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