Latest news with #ATSB
ABC News
3 hours ago
- ABC News
Man dies in light plane crash north of Balranald in south-west NSW
A man has died in a plane crash in south-west New South Wales. At about 2pm on Wednesday, emergency services were called to D-Block Road north of Balranald, about 130 kilometres west of Hay, after reports that a light plane had crashed. On arrival, emergency crews found a man in a critical condition. NSW Paramedics provided treatment but he died at the scene. The man was the sole traveller in the plane. He is yet to be formally identified but is believed to be aged in his 50s. Police have established a crime scene and a report will be prepared for the coroner. The Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) will investigate the cause of the crash.
ABC News
16 hours ago
- General
- ABC News
Helicopter close call in Tasmania in 2024 unreported to safety authorities until video tip-off to ATSB
An incident in which a helicopter crew disagreed before the aircraft smashed into a lake due to pilot miscalculation was not reported to safety authorities, in breach of regulations. The incident in Tullah, in Tasmania's north-west in July 2024, only came to light after a member of the public saw a video on Facebook and later reported it to the Australian Transport Safety Bureau. The Bell 214B-1 helicopter, operated by McDermott Aviation, had departed a private airfield at Cressy, Tasmania for an "external sling load operation" at Tullah, the ATSB report said. The helicopter was crewed by two pilots, with the copilot as "pilot flying" in control of the aircraft. As the helicopter arrived over Tullah, the crew "observed significant fog over most of the town, from the reservoir to the ridge". The crew "discussed the available options to land at Tullah", with disagreement over which approach to take — after which control was taken over by the other crew member, referred to in the report as the "pilot in command" (PIC). The PIC "reported as the sun was low on the horizon and the water was glassy calm, there was a reflection of the edge of town and trees along the reservoir, reducing their depth perception". Due to a "concern with possibly flying into the water, the PIC planned to conduct a slow and steep approach towards the reservoir", the ATSB found. The PIC "anticipated they would become visual with the water at approximately 100-200 feet (30-60 metres), aided by the rotor downwash disturbing the water surface", with the pilot then using this "as a height reference, then climb back to 500 ft (150 metres) to continue to the edge of town for further descent". However, during the descent, the rotor downwash was "not visible to the crew due to the descent angle", with the crew losing sight of the "visual reference with the water". At approximately 5 feet (1.5 metres), the crew "identified the water surface", with the PIC "immediately" applying power to "stop the descent and initiate a climb", the report noted. The ATSB said the video showed the helicopter "making a significant splash", before it pulls away and climbs to 500 feet above the water. In its report, the ATSB said the "serious incident" was not reported at the time by the helicopter operator, as is "required by the Transport Safety Investigation Regulations". It decided to investigate after "receiving video of the incident from a third party". There were no injuries arising out of the incident, the report said. The incident first came to light after a video was shared in a community Facebook group about helicopters being involved in communication tower upgrades in the local area. The post, shared a day after the incident, shows the helicopter involved — the yellow and blue McDermott Aviation Bell 214 with another helicopter during "emergency services communications upgrade" work — and mentions "fog/low cloud" in the area. The video posted into the comments, later deleted but obtained by the ABC, shows the helicopter coming in low and hitting the water, before pulling away — with a witness heard exclaiming "what the f***?". The witness, who asked to not be named, told the ABC they were "just hoping they'd get back up and the motor didn't die". The member of the public who reported the incident to the ATSB said they did so after they could not get answers as to what happened from the company. "I am just disappointed that it never got reported from the pilots, when it was a clear incident involving terrain," said the person, who also asked to remain anonymous. The ATSB concluded the helicopter crew did not follow "effective" communication and "decision-making" protocols, known as crew resource management, in the lead-up to the incident, which it said "could have been avoided". McDermott Aviation Group promotes itself as Australia's "largest privately owned aviation company", with operations across the country and in the US, "Port Moresby, New Caledonia, Europe and Greece". On the company website, it says it operates 13 Bell 214 "heavy lift" helicopters in its fleet As well as other tasks, the company's helicopters have been involved in numerous firefighting operations in Tasmania. McDermott Aviation has been contacted for comment.
7NEWS
23-07-2025
- 7NEWS
Virgin Australia asks passengers to keep power banks in sight after suspected midair battery fire
Virgin Australia has urged passengers to keep power banks in sight during flights after a suspected midair lithium battery fire in an overhead locker. On Monday, a fire broke out on flight VA1528 from Sydney to Hobart as the plane began to land. Passengers reported smelling smoke, and when cabin crew opened the overhead compartment, they found a lithium battery on fire. The crew extinguished the fire before landing, and the bag containing the battery was removed once the plane was on the ground. No injuries were reported, and passengers disembarked safely after the aircraft landed at Hobart Airport. The airline believes the fire was caused by a power bank in a passenger's bag. A Virgin Australia spokesperson said an investigation began immediately. 'We have immediately initiated an investigation into the cause of a small fire originating from a passenger's carry-on luggage in an overhead locker during descent on flight VA1528 on Monday (21 July),' the spokesperson said. 'This investigation, conducted with the Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) and Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) is ongoing. 'Any relevant findings from this investigation may inform permanent changes to our battery policy to ensure the safety of our guests and team members.' Following the incident, the airline is reviewing its policy on passengers having and using power banks on board flights. Passengers have been asked to keep power banks within sight and easily accessible throughout the flight, and are also encouraged not to use them to charge devices while on board. Under the airline's existing policy, all guests must carry power banks in the cabin. Peter Carter, an aviation lawyer and director of Carter Capner Law, said airlines need to take stronger steps to protect passenger safety. 'When it comes to serious on board incidents ultimately the airline is responsible for any resulting injuries, including smoke inhalation,' he said. 'Perhaps the airlines need to ask more questions and do more when it comes to on board safety. 'Given this could have erupted into a dangerous blaze very quickly, aviation authorities should be putting this incident under the microscope. 'While this is a pretty rare circumstance I have no doubt ATSB and CASA will turn their attention to this incident and we should trust their assessment on what should happen going forward.' Power banks are portable battery chargers designed to power devices on-the-go. They use rechargeable lithium-ion or lithium-polymer batteries that are highly flammable, can explode or vent toxic gas, said the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission.
Sky News AU
22-07-2025
- General
- Sky News AU
Queensland flight examiner's last words to wife just hours before fatal plane crash claimed his life revealed
The longtime wife of a man who died following a tragic plane crash over the weekend has revealed the last words he spoke to her just hours before take-off. Flight examiner and war veteran Robert 'Bob' Molony was one of two men onboard an Aero Logistics aircraft which crashed west of Toowoomba, Queensland on Sunday afternoon. Emergency responders rushed to scene at Devon Park near Oakley at about 3.10pm following reports of a crash, with police saying in a statement the two male occupants of the aircraft were declared dead at the scene. Pilot Wayne Saunders has been identified as the other man onboard the 35-year-old French made twin turboprop Reims Cessna F406 that took off from Warwick Airport. The Courier Mail reports Stephanie Molony, who had been married to Mr Molony for nearly three decades, has said her husband will leave a legacy of having been 'one of the most experienced pilots around'. 'I'm so proud of him and the person he was for the industry, that they've now got people like him to aspire to be,' she said. Ms Molony also revealed she and the 78-year-old had shopped for fruit trees at a Bunnings on Sunday morning before her husband's flight that afternoon. She said the flight examiner had yelled to her 'I'll be home at 4pm to plant those trees' as he walked out the door. 'There was nothing extra about it, just as simple as that,' she said. 'It got to 4.30pm and I tried ringing his mobile and it went to message bank. Ms Molony drove to the airport the plane had departed from and discovered her husband's parked car, before police then arrived to deliver the news, according to the masthead. It comes after the chief executive of Aero Logistics – an Archerfield-based aircraft charter and rental service – described Sunday's incident as 'tragedy'. 'This is a terrible tragedy for the two people on-board the aircraft and their families, friends and workmates,' chief executive Ben Smee said on Monday. 'This is a devastating loss for everyone who knew them. 'We have offered our support and assistance to their families as they come to terms with the situation. We have also made counselling services available for our staff.' An investigation into determining the cause of the crash could take up to six weeks, according to the Australian Transport and Safety Bureau (ATSB). Mr Molony, originally from Brisbane, was a former Royal Australian Air Force pilot who was deployed to South Vietnam as a Canberra bomber navigator, having amassed more than 14,000 flight hours over his career. The ATSB has said its investigation involves a team of investigators from Brisbane and Cairns. 'Investigators will conduct a range of evidence-gathering activities, including site and wreckage examination, and recovery of any aircraft components for further examination at the ATSB's technical facilities in Canberra,' a statement said. 'Investigators will also seek to interview involved parties, and collect relevant recorded information including flight tracking data, as well as pilot and aircraft maintenance records, and weather information."
Yahoo
22-07-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Qantas plane makes sudden landing
A Qantas plane with more than 60 passengers on board has been forced to make a priority landing in western Victoria due to a 'technical issue'. The QF2079 flight was scheduled for 10.40am on Tuesday, travelling from Mildura to Melbourne, when the aircraft had to make a sudden landing with 63 passengers on board. A Qantas spokesman said 'one of our (aircraft) had to return to Mildura shortly after takeoff on Tuesday due to a technical issue'. 'Our pilots are highly trained to handle situations like this, and the flight has since landed safely in Mildura,' a Qantas statement read. 'We appreciate this would have been an unsettling experience for customers and thank them for their understanding.' Police were called to Mildura Airport just after 11am following reports of an 'aircraft incident'. 'Police along with other emergency services were called to an airport in Mildura following reports of an aircraft incident just after 11am, where it appears there was an issue with the aircraft,' police told NewsWire. 'The plane landed safely, pilot and passengers weren't injured.' Ambulance Victoria also confirmed crews were called to the scene about 11am. 'No emergency treatment or transport was provided,' they said. An Australian Transport Safety Bureau spokesman told NewsWire the ATSB was aware of the incident. 'The ATSB has been notified of a Dash 8 passenger airliner return to Mildura this morning due to a technical issue, and is gathering further information prior to making an investigation decision,' the spokesman said. More to come
