Two individuals lost their lives, and 10 others were swiftly transported to the hospital following a small aircraft crash into a hangar at an Australian airport.
The Diamond DA42 twin-engine plane caught fire at Parafield Airport in north Adelaide while attempting to land around 2:10 pm local time on Wednesday. According to authorities, the pilot and passenger were among the fatalities, with the injured individuals being ground crew inside the hangar during the incident. Emergency services managed to extinguish the significant fire, which generated thick black smoke in the vicinity, prompting locals to stay indoors and seal windows and doors.
Chief Inspector Andrew McCracken informed the media that the tragic crash occurred shortly after takeoff, resulting in severe injuries, fires, and structural damage. One person sustained life-threatening burns and was rushed to the Royal Adelaide Hospital, with two others hospitalized for serious injuries. Additionally, one person suffered minor injuries, and six individuals experienced smoke inhalation, all of whom were inside the hangar at the time of the accident.
Ch Insp McCracken expressed condolences for the pilot, passenger, and the closely-knit local Parafield community impacted by the incident. Witnesses near the scene, like Ben, described the scene as a large fire in an airplane hangar, with multiple emergency response teams and fire trucks arriving on site.
Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) chief commissioner Angus Mitchell announced an upcoming investigation. A team of transport safety investigators specializing in various fields related to aircraft operations will conduct evidence-gathering activities, including examining the site, wreckage, and potentially relevant aircraft components to determine the cause of the crash.
