Pilot seriously hurt after plane crashes during aerial display at Avalon Airshow

A pilot is in a critical condition after his plane crashed to the ground while performing an aerial demonstration at the Avalon Australian International Airshow south-west of Melbourne.

Footage from the event late on Friday afternoon shows the plane loop around and dive towards the tarmac. Shocked spectators jump to their feet as it hits the ground amid plumes of dust and smoke.

Images show the crumpled orange plane from the Paul Bennet Aerobatics team surrounded by fire rescue vehicles and ambulances while patrons watched from behind barricades.

Ambulance Victoria said a man in his 50s was flown to The Alfred hospital in Melbourne in a critical condition, with serious upper and lower body injuries.

Avalon Airshow organiser the AMDA Foundation said in a statement the aircraft hit the ground while doing an aerobatic manoeuvre. The event was suspended for the rest of the day after the crash. The foundation said it would prepare for the airshow to continue on Saturday.

“The Avalon Australian International Airshow concluded the day’s activities to allow the Australian Transport Safety Bureau investigation team to have full and free access to the site,” chief executive Justin Giddings said in the statement on Friday night.

“The incident occurred well away from the crowds in attendance and no member of the public was injured.

“We are continuing with preparations to recommence the airshow tomorrow morning, subject to confirmation this evening.

“Our thoughts are with the pilot and his family, friends and team members.”

Audio from the Broadcastify livestream of the airshow captured the aerobatic co-ordinator calling off the display moments after the crash. “Knock it off, knock it off, knock it off, ” the co-ordinator says.

Student pilot Taj Cooper was sitting at the front of the crowds watching the airshow, and said he and his friends could not believe the pilot was alive after witnessing the crash.

“We’ve watched and seen quite a lot of aviation incidents ... and we talked to each other that I hope he does survive, but that was a really hard crash,” he said.

The 20-year-old said the crowd erupted into applause when it was announced over loudspeaker the pilot had survived.

“We were all really grateful ... really relieved,” he said.

Cooper said the pilot was performing solo barrel rolls away from other aircraft when he looped around towards the ground.

“He was a lot lower than he was supposed to be, and as he was about to pull up … unfortunately, he hit the ground, and he hit it pretty hard,” he said.

Cooper said the crowd went silent after the crash and some people walked closer to the front trying to make sense of what had happened.

“Everybody was covering their mouths, just at disbelief what happened.”

Emergency crews respond after the crash at Avalon Airshow on Friday.Credit: AAP

Cooper, who has his recreational pilot’s licence, said he keenly looked forward to airshows but seeing the accident made him feel more cautious about his own flying.

Victoria Police said the pilot was the only person in the plane and no other injuries had been reported.

“Emergency services were called to reports the plane, which was conducting a demonstration during an airshow, had lost control and crashed into the tarmac about 5.15pm,” police said.

Avalon Airport immediately halted domestic Jetstar passenger flights after the crash. At 8pm a long line of Jetstar passengers snaked through the airport departure lounge, waiting for updates on the disrupted flights.

Martina Murrihy was on a flight ready to depart for the Gold Coast when the incident happened. She said the Jetstar pilot informed the passengers, many of whom saw the smoke and flames through their windows.

“We weren’t sure to the degree of how bad the incident was,” she said. “It looked bad.” After passengers dispersed, they were re-screened before departure on the delayed flight.

Jetstar has been contacted for comment.

It’s the second incident at Avalon is less than a month. On March 6, a teen boy armed with a gun boarded a plane at Avalon Airport before being overpowered and disarmed by passengers.

He has been charged with terrorism.

“The incident occurred a significant distance away from spectators and there have been no reports of further injuries.

“The exact circumstance surrounding the crash are yet to be determined.”

The six-day airshow event is scheduled to run at the airport, north of Geelong, until March 30.

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