www.postcourier.com.pg
AN AUSTRALIAN pilot and his wife plucked shocked but unhurt when the light plane they attempted to force land at Kagamuga airport burst into flames on the runway yesterday in Mt Hagen. The pilot whose name has been withheld, was forced to attempt a belly landing when the landing gear (wheels) failed to come down. The plane, a Bonanza Beech twin engine aircraft owned by the pilot and carrying his wife, was part of a flying safari group which flies to Mt Hagen annually. The Post-Courier, at the scene of the incident, was told by senior constables Joanes Poiya and Samuel Sapen, from Kagamuga police station, the pilot and his wife were pulled out of the wrecked plane by construction
workers from the Kagamuga Redevelopment project. Constable Poiya, who was among the first to arrive on the scene, said after pulling the couple out of the plane, a Hebou Construction car drove them to hospital. “The plane looked intact for about 15-20 minutes but then it caught fire,’’ Constable Poiya said. “Fire trucks at the airport were out of order and a fire truck from Mt Hagen attended but couldn’t prevent the plane from catching fire.”
Picture