An unfortunate incident occurred at the Avalon International Airshow near Geelong on Friday when an aircraft crashed during an aerobatic performance. The crash took place in front of a crowd that was watching the Sky Aces Formation Aerobatic Team around 5:15 pm on Friday.
The pilot, believed to be in his 50s, was airlifted to The Alfred hospital in Melbourne in critical condition. Victoria Police confirmed that the pilot had sustained serious injuries but thankfully, there were no reports of injuries to spectators.
Ambulance Victoria stated that the pilot suffered upper and lower body injuries, and an air ambulance was dispatched to the scene. The single-seat biplane was performing acrobatic maneuvers when it crashed, causing shock among the spectators.
The Avalon Airshow, which was scheduled to continue over the weekend, was canceled following the tragic incident. Witnesses described the moment of the crash, with one individual named Glenn mentioning that the plane lost control while performing a loop and crashed into the tarmac. Another witness named Jeff recounted how the pilot attempted a loop but failed to pull out in time, resulting in the crash.
Despite the severity of the situation, efforts were made to rescue the pilot from the wreckage, with CPR being performed on-site. Reports indicated that the Paul Bennet aerobatic plane crashed while attempting a loop too close to the ground. However, one observer mentioned that the pilot was fortunate as the plane was almost flat on its belly when it made contact with the ground.
The exact circumstances leading to the crash are still under investigation. Our thoughts are with the pilot and their loved ones during this difficult time.
