Plane crash survivor braces for facial reconstruction surgery

The 27-year-old was forced to crash land his light aircraft just outside a remote West Australian town. WARNING: Graphic image

WARNING: Graphic image

The survivor of a light plane crash near a remote West Australian town is preparing to have major facial surgery in Perth.

Kalen Turner, 27, had to use a stretch of the Derby Highway to bring down his Cessna 310 after its twin engines failed during a flight on June 20 near Derby, about 220km northeast of Broome in the state’s Kimberley.

Kalen Turner was seriously injured when he had to make a forced landing in a light aircraft near Derby on June 20.

“I need extensive surgery as most of the bones in my face are broken and the maxillofacial surgeon will have to reconstruct my nose, put plates in my cheeks and realign my jaw,” Mr Turner wrote in a social media update on Sunday.

The Adelaide man remains far from home in Perth, where he’ll undergo the surgery on Thursday.

“I need to be in Perth till mid-August in order to have surgery and recover, but not being from WA means I am becoming increasingly financially embarrassed,” Mr Turner wrote.

“My wonderful friends have set up a fundraiser and GoFundMe page, for which I am extremely thankful.”

At the time of writing, that fundraiser has raised $6360 of its $20,000 goal.

Most of the bones in his face are broken. Picture: Facebook

A ticketed fundraising event is also being held on Saturday at the Roebuck Hotel in Broome.

Mr Turner remains positive and intends to continue pursuing a future in aviation.

“I’m taking a few months off to recover fully and to reach my goal of continuing my flying career,” he said.

It's understood the twin engines of the Cessna 310 failed, forcing Mr Turner to use the Derby Highway as an emergency runway.

“The ophthalmologist and surgeon are confident I will fly again.

“I have asked the surgeon to make me look like a model, so if for any reason I can’t fly again, I could have a modelling career. Perhaps a hand model but a model nonetheless.”

The Australian Transport Safety Bureau continues its investigation into the plane crash.

Originally published as Plane crash survivor braces for facial reconstruction surgery