'It's going to crash!': Girl on-board Ferris wheel films plane hitting ride
A Sydney courtroom has been shown a video recorded by a 13-year-old girl who was riding a ferris wheel when a light plane crashed into it.
While the terrifying crash remarkably did not claim any lives, the moment left the teenager with severe anxiety and depression, and both she and the pilot are suing.
October 1, 2011 is a day that still haunts so many after the plane crashed near a Taree fair.
The pilot, Paul Cox, survived but eight years on he still could not bring himself to watch the video played in the NSW Supreme Court on Monday.
The chilling screams of onlookers and children trapped on the Ferris wheel can be heard on camera as a light plane brought their ride to a frightening end.
Before the plane hits, the girl can be heard repeatedly yelling: “It’s going to crash.”
A child can then be heard desperately screaming for their mum.
Mr Cox and the then-13-year-old girl, who was on the Ferris wheel with her brother, are suing Greater Taree City Council because they claim the festival ride was set up too close to the Old Bar Airport’s runway.
In court, the now 21-year-old Amber claims the incident caused her to suffer significant psychological trauma.
The pilot’s wife, Judy, testified about the financial and emotional toll the crash had taken on their marriage and business.
Ms Cox told the court her husband became so withdrawn after the crash he would not work at their hotel reception because he did not want to face the public.
The court heard he was now taking anti-depressants, valium and sleeping pills to cope.
Aviation experts will on Tuesday give their testimonies about the crash.
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