LATEST @ 11.30 AM | Police have confirmed two people have died in a fiery light plane crash on the northern Gold Coast.
The single engine aircraft crashed just after taking off from the Heck Airfield in Jacobs Well around 6am before erupting into flames.
The pilot, a 73-year-old man from Beenleigh, and his male passenger from Sydney both died upon impact.
“The next of kin of the Beenleigh man have been advised and are with police now,” Queensland Police Superintendent Brett Jackson said.
“As you can imagine it is quite a traumatic experience for them right now.”
Authorities are now trying to piece together the cause of the crash, with the Australian Transport Safety Bureau officially launching an investigation.
“At this point it’s too early to determine the cause, there is some CCTV available from the private airstrip here that will be subject to the investigation,” Supt Jackson said.
A flight plan lodged with the Civil Aviation Safety Authority suggested the flight was headed to a town near Tamworth in NSW.
The fiery crash has sparked massive blaze in the nearby cane fields and grassland, which has spread over 150 acres.
Eighteen fire crews remain on the ground working to douse the flames, with water bombers also being called in to assist.
“Conditions are not great for suppressing fires today, and we’re seeing that in the fire behaviour over the past couple of hours,” Queensland Rural Fire Superintendent Joel Gordon said.
A smoke warning has been issued for Jacobs Well and surrounding areas, with residents being urged to close their windows and doors.
“The fire is putting out a fair bit of smoke north west of the field which is impacting schools and the communities around Jacobs Well and further north” Supt Gordon said.
“We are expecting containment by the end of the day but we have a few hours ahead of us.”
LATEST @ 7.30 AM | Grave fears are being held for two people following a light plane crash on the northern Gold Coast.
The aircraft came down into thick busland near an airfield off Stapylton Jacobs Well Road at Jacobs Well just before 6am on Tuesday.
Upon impact, the light plane erupted into a fireball sparking a major emergency response.
A dozen fire crews remain on scene working to extinguish the blaze.
A Queensland Ambulance spokesperson confirmed the two occupants of the aircraft were assessed at the scene for life-threatening injuries.
No transports have been made to hospital.
EARLIER @ 6.15 AM | There’s an unfolding emergency on the northern Gold Coast following an early morning light plane crash.
The aircraft plunged into bushland near an airfield off Stapylton Jacobs Well Road at Jacobs Well just before 6am on Tuesday.
The light plane then caught fire upon landing, with smoke seen billowing over the area.
A Queensland Fire Department spokesperson confirmed two people were on board at the time, however their injuries are unknown at this stage.
Multiple emergency crews are on scene working to access the aircraft.
More to come.
