Man taken to hospital after light plane crash in Queensland
A pilot is fighting for life after his home-made light plane flipped and crash landed west of Townsville.
The man was flying with his daughter when the duo landed heavily, flipping the aircraft.
The duo were then trapped underneath for half an hour as rescue crews rushed to the scene.
“Whilst landing there’s been some difficulties encountered resulting in a hard landing and the aircraft has flipped,” senior sergeant Ian Wilkie said.
The woman, aged in her 20s, managed to call 000 while trapped with her seriously injured father.
Paramedics were only able to reach the woman’s hand as she remained conscious.
“The female in the cockpit was actually quite coherent, and good to work with,” inspector Mark McKenzie said.
“She was actually able to help us by isolating the fuel pumps.”
Rescue teams were able to use airbags to lift the plane, but when the 68-year-old pilot was pulled free, he went into cardiac arrest.
“He was resuscitated next to the aircraft once he was removed,” Snr sgt Wilkie said.
“Let me say straight up now, the flight doctor and crew did an outstanding job.
“”I’ve seen things happen that I haven’t seen before in 30-odd years.”
The man was airlifted to hospital in a critical condition, while his daughter was rushed to hospital by ambulance.
The forensic crash unit and aviation bodies are now investigating exactly what caused the crash.