A brief
report from the ABC suggests a firefighting helo has gone down in a paddock in Tasmania this afternoon. No word on the crew as yet.
Helicopter crashes into paddock while fighting fire in northern Tasmania
Police and emergency services are responding to a report of a helicopter crash in northern Tasmania.
The report suggests the helicopter has crashed in a paddock while helping fight a bushfire at nearby Lebrina.
More to come.
EDIT 0810UTC:
Pilot dies after helicopter crashes into paddock while fighting fire in Northern Tasmania
A man has died after the helicopter he was piloting crashed into a paddock while fighting the Lebrina bushfire in north-eastern Tasmania.
The 41-year-old man was the sole occupant of the aircraft, and died at the scene. Tasmania Fire Service Acting Deputy Chief Jeff Harper said the northern Tasmanian man was an experienced pilot who had been assisting water bombing activities as a subcontractor.
Emergency services were called to the crash at Pipers Brook Road on Monday afternoon just after 3pm. The man was the sole occupant of the aircraft. The Fire Service mobilised multiple crews to attend the site.
Tasmania Police said the pilot appeared to have been undertaking bushfire-related work before the crash. Mr Harper said it was a tragic incident, and that the man had worked on multiple Tasmanian fires in the past. "Our thoughts are also with our people and others who have been working very closely with the man involved to help fight the Lebrina fires," Mr Harper said. "We will be working with police, the Australian Transport Safety Bureau and other authorities so that this incident is fully investigated.
"It is a very tragic situation, especially because it has involved someone who was working hard to fight the Lebrina fires to keep our community safe. "Understandably, this is a very distressing incident for everyone involved and we will be ensuring our people have access to all available support." Firefighting aircraft were grounded after the helicopter crash, and will all be assessed overnight before being deployed again.
Flight crews and ground crews are being debriefed at the Launceston Airport.
The incident will be reported to the Australian Transport Safety Bureau, and a report will be prepared for the coroner.