Merged: Plane missing south of Sydney...
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Merged: Plane missing south of Sydney...
just heard on 2GB radio in the early hours of this morning that a plane dropped off radar south of Sydney somewhere. Departed from Mascot. Anyone have anything??? 
Tom19
Tom19
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A Metro on night freight with 3 POB disappeared from radar at 10 DME SY on the 149 Radial approx 2325 local time last night after departing off 16R.
Search in progress with 5 choppers & several police boats.
Some wreckage has been located in the water near Bundeena.
Condolences to all involved.
Search in progress with 5 choppers & several police boats.
Some wreckage has been located in the water near Bundeena.
Condolences to all involved.
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The Telegraph is reporting it was operated by Airtex.
A MAJOR search is underway for the pilot of a cargo plane that has crashed into water in Sydney's south after experiencing "technical difficulties."
The pilot, the sole person on board the Metroliner, raised the alarm just minutes after leaving Sydney Airport at 11.20pm last night.
Authorities hold grave fears for the pilot.
Civil Aviation Safety Authority spokesman Peter Gibson said five nautical miles after leaving the airport, it reported technical problems then minutes later disappeared off the radar.
After a massive search involving water police, rescue helicopters and even local fisherman, the wreckage was found about 500m off Bundeena Beach.
Witness Andrew Holmes, 29, of Caringbah said he was driving his boat to a boat mooring when he saw a plane flying erratically dipping left and right.
"I saw it go up in the clouds and then lost it. About 30 seconds later it came down out of the clouds at a 45 degree angle, tried to level out and then just disappeared on the horizon," he said.
The twin turbo propeller plane, operated by Airtex Aviation based out of Bankstown Airport, was transporting mail to Brisbane.
More to come.
The pilot, the sole person on board the Metroliner, raised the alarm just minutes after leaving Sydney Airport at 11.20pm last night.
Authorities hold grave fears for the pilot.
Civil Aviation Safety Authority spokesman Peter Gibson said five nautical miles after leaving the airport, it reported technical problems then minutes later disappeared off the radar.
After a massive search involving water police, rescue helicopters and even local fisherman, the wreckage was found about 500m off Bundeena Beach.
Witness Andrew Holmes, 29, of Caringbah said he was driving his boat to a boat mooring when he saw a plane flying erratically dipping left and right.
"I saw it go up in the clouds and then lost it. About 30 seconds later it came down out of the clouds at a 45 degree angle, tried to level out and then just disappeared on the horizon," he said.
The twin turbo propeller plane, operated by Airtex Aviation based out of Bankstown Airport, was transporting mail to Brisbane.
More to come.
I sat and watched OZA take off the other night on my way home from work. I thought it looked in fairly good shape compared to other Metro freighters I have seen around Sydney. I wonder what happened? My condolences to all involved.
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The pilot of the metro was a true gentleman, I have known him for 20yrs.
No speculation please everyone to the cause of the accident, the man was very experienced.
Its a very sad day for his family, my wife & I are thinking of you all.
RIP mate will have a beer or ten for you.
No speculation please everyone to the cause of the accident, the man was very experienced.
Its a very sad day for his family, my wife & I are thinking of you all.
RIP mate will have a beer or ten for you.
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Turboprop Metroliner crash on take off from Sydney
SMH
April 10, 2008 - 9:08AM
Searchers have found debris floating in the ocean south-east of Sydney after a freight plane went missing overnight.
About 6am, members of the Australian Maritime Safety Authority search and rescue team found boxes, bags and fibreglass debris believed to be from the aircraft, which was on a mail run from Sydney to Brisbane.
"As yet we are still holding out hope [for the male pilot], but given the debris found it could be the crash site," an AMSA spokeswoman said.
"Water police officers report that they could smell aviation fuel in the area," a spokeswoman told AAP.
"We haven't recovered a body, and a range of private, police and military aircraft continue to search."
Fears were held for the safety of the pilot, who was the only person on the plane when it disappeared.
A fisherman, Andrew Holmes, told Sky News he saw the plane burst into flames and then fall towards the ground.
"It came moving back down at about a 45 degree angle and came back towards the ground, then levelled out and disappeared over the horizon," he said.
The search, which will use sonar equipment, was focused on an area of 80 square miles, about nine kilometres south-east of Bundeena in the Royal National Park.
Four helicopters had joined the search since daylight resumed, the AMSA spokeswoman said.
An air, land and sea exclusion zone is in place between Cronulla and Stanwell Park, five nautical miles (9.25km) out to sea and about 3km inland from the coast.
The plane took off from Sydney Airport about 11.30pm last night. The male pilot, the Metroliner's only occupant, reported problems 10 nautical miles (18.5km) after take-off.
"Shortly after that the aircraft disappeared off the radar at about 4,000 feet (1,219 metres)," a Civil Aviation Safety Authority spokesman said.
"We don't know what the problem was the pilot was alluding to, he didn't give any details in his broadcast, but obviously that is something we will look into as part of our investigations.''
The twin turboprop aircraft was being used to transport freight.
- with AAP
April 10, 2008 - 9:08AM
Searchers have found debris floating in the ocean south-east of Sydney after a freight plane went missing overnight.
About 6am, members of the Australian Maritime Safety Authority search and rescue team found boxes, bags and fibreglass debris believed to be from the aircraft, which was on a mail run from Sydney to Brisbane.
"As yet we are still holding out hope [for the male pilot], but given the debris found it could be the crash site," an AMSA spokeswoman said.
"Water police officers report that they could smell aviation fuel in the area," a spokeswoman told AAP.
"We haven't recovered a body, and a range of private, police and military aircraft continue to search."
Fears were held for the safety of the pilot, who was the only person on the plane when it disappeared.
A fisherman, Andrew Holmes, told Sky News he saw the plane burst into flames and then fall towards the ground.
"It came moving back down at about a 45 degree angle and came back towards the ground, then levelled out and disappeared over the horizon," he said.
The search, which will use sonar equipment, was focused on an area of 80 square miles, about nine kilometres south-east of Bundeena in the Royal National Park.
Four helicopters had joined the search since daylight resumed, the AMSA spokeswoman said.
An air, land and sea exclusion zone is in place between Cronulla and Stanwell Park, five nautical miles (9.25km) out to sea and about 3km inland from the coast.
The plane took off from Sydney Airport about 11.30pm last night. The male pilot, the Metroliner's only occupant, reported problems 10 nautical miles (18.5km) after take-off.
"Shortly after that the aircraft disappeared off the radar at about 4,000 feet (1,219 metres)," a Civil Aviation Safety Authority spokesman said.
"We don't know what the problem was the pilot was alluding to, he didn't give any details in his broadcast, but obviously that is something we will look into as part of our investigations.''
The twin turboprop aircraft was being used to transport freight.
- with AAP
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The more things change, the more they stay the same. Remember the poor guys (including Black Jack) who flew those bloody awful Pigs on the Ingham's chicken run to ML every night. Greater heaps of s
t it would have been harder to find.
t it would have been harder to find.
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Metro
I was flying around SY last night when the SAR was thrown into full swing to start looking for the poor bloke.A very sad day when one of our own departs an airport for the last time. Prayers are with the family.