Small plane carrying 7 passengers crashes into crocodile-infested waters
A small aircraft carrying seven people crashed into waters known to contain crocodiles off the coast of Western Australia on Thursday, leaving one passenger with minor injuries while authorities work to determine what caused the incident.
The aircraft, identified as a Cessna 441 Conquest twin-engine turboprop, went down in Roebuck Bay near the town of Broome shortly after departing Broome Airport at about 11:25 a.m. local time. Reports indicate the plane experienced a loss of engine power just minutes after takeoff.
Two pilots and five passengers were on board the flight. Witness Alex MacNamara said he noticed the aircraft flying unusually low before it disappeared from view.
According to MacNamara, the plane appeared to tilt while turning and then dropped lower toward the horizon before vanishing. At first, he assumed it had simply continued flying out of sight.
Emergency responders quickly moved into the area after the crash. Police confirmed that one passenger suffered a minor head injury. A man in his 40s was later airlifted to a nearby hospital with injuries that were not considered life-threatening. The other six people survived and were treated at the scene.
Bili Putra, who had been fishing nearby, said he saw rescue crews arrive shortly after the crash. He recalled spotting a helicopter overhead and police boats moving toward the site. Using a phone to zoom in on the area, he said they could see rescuers pulling someone from the water.
Flight information shows the aircraft had been headed to Mungalalu Truscott Airport, a destination more than 400 miles away. The crash occurred roughly three minutes after departure, sending the plane into the shallow waters of Roebuck Bay.
Australia’s Transport Safety Bureau has asked anyone who may have recorded video of the incident to provide that footage to investigators.
Officials said investigators are scheduled to arrive at the crash location Friday to begin examining the wreckage and mapping the crash site. The team will also collect any flight recorders or other aircraft components for further analysis at the agency’s technical facilities in Canberra.
Investigators plan to speak with the flight crew, passengers, and witnesses, while also reviewing flight tracking data, surveillance footage, maintenance records for the aircraft, and weather conditions at the time of the crash.
The investigation into what caused the aircraft to lose power and crash is continuing.
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