YOU NEED TO KNOW
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A pilot in Australia has died after his plane was involved in a mid-air collision with another plane
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Emergency services were first called to the crash site near a private New South Wales airport at around 12:15 pm local time on Sunday, November 30.
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The victim has been identified as Eddie Seve, an aerobatic pilot
A pilot in Australia has died after his plane was involved in a mid-air collision with another plane.
According to a statement from police in New South Wales, emergency services were first called to the crash site near Napperfield Airfield, a private airport located in the Sydney suburb of Wedderburn, at around 12:15 pm local time on Sunday 30 November.
Two small planes collided in mid-air, before one of the planes crashed into a rural area.
“The emergency services that responded found the body of the pilot, believed to be the only occupant of the plane,” said the police. “The other plane landed safely at the airport, and the pilot was not injured.”
9 News and the Daily Mail reported that the deceased was identified as Eddie Seve, an aerobatic pilot.
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Van’s RV-7 aircraft (stock image)
Seve, who founded the Freedom Formation Display Team — Australia’s largest civilian formation team, according to the organization’s social media pages — was flying in a four-plane formation when it collided with another plane, the Every day Mail reported.
Flight radar data obtained from the shops showed that Seve’s hobbyist-built Van’s Aircraft RV-7 plane left the airport just after 11:40 am and traveled east.
The aircraft briefly flew over the ocean and turned back to the airport before crashing into the other plane, which was also an RV-7 — a two-seat, single-engine plane.
A witness who spoke with The Daily Telegraph he said that while Seve’s plane was seriously damaged in the accident, the other plane “only lost a wheel”.
“The other plane was torn apart by the prop, and then the fuselage separated, and it went down,” said the witness, recalling how the planes had been flying closer together before the impact. “It sounded like someone landed on my hangar – it was so loud.”
“They were forming a formation, they were so close to each other,” he added. “One man pulled away first, and the other man followed, and then it happened.”
The second plane landed safely back at the airport, and its pilot was not injured.
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According to the Every day TelegraphSeve, from the Sydney Hills District, was a highly respected and experienced pilot and recently flew with his aerobatic group at the Gold Coast Airshow.
The Temora Flyers released a statement shortly after the incident, sharing that it was acknowledging “the tragic loss of a pilot involved in an aircraft accident earlier today.”
“The pilot who passed was a highly respected member of the formation team and a strong supporter of young people in aviation. Their contribution to inspire young people and promote safe and professional flying will not be forgotten,” the organization wrote on Facebook.
“Temora Flyers Inc. extends our heartfelt condolences to the pilot’s family, friends, and all who are suffering during this difficult time,” the statement continued.
The Police noted that the Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) has opened an investigation into the incident.
“Investigators will also interview the other pilots involved in the formation flight, as well as other witnesses and parties involved,” the ATSB told 7News.
Read the original article on People