A pilot has been killed after two planes crashed into each other in mid-air just moments before landing. Two light planes collided in Sydney, Australia, sending one of them plummeting into the bushes below and killing pilot Eddie Seve. Despite the best efforts of emergency services, who rushed to the scene on Sunday, Mr Seve was pronounced dead.
The second pilot, Ollie Geragthy, made it out uninjured as he was able to land safely at an airfield. The Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) and New South Wales Police have since launched an investigation, cordoning off two crime scenes.
Both light planes were involved in an acrobatic formation flight with two other aircraft and were returning to an airfield when the crash occurred, the ATSB said. It will be interviewing the other pilots as part of its investigation.
A spokesperson said: “They will also collect relevant recorded information, including any air traffic control and flight tracking data, as well as pilot and aircraft maintenance records and weather information.”
The pilots were from the Freedom Formation Display Team – the largest formation aerobatic display team in the Southern Hemisphere.
The team said: “The Freedom Formation Team can sadly confirm that there has been an accident involving some of our aircraft today in Sydney’s southwest.
“We are working to fully support the relevant authorities as they take the lead in coordinating the emergency response. We are also supporting the team members and their families.”
A New South Wales Police spokesperson said: “Members of the public are urged to avoid the area.”
The force urged anyone with information about the crash to come forward.
