On November 19, 2023, two former RAAF SIAI Marchetti S.211 jet trainers collided over Port Phillip Bay, 60 km from the Melbourne CBD in Victoria, Australia.[1]
_SIAI_Marchetti_S211_taxiing_at_Wagga_Wagga_Airport.jpg) VH-DZJ, the crashed aircraft, seen here at Wagga Wagga Airport in April 2014 | |
| Accident | |
|---|---|
| Date | 19 November 2023 |
| Summary | Mid-air collision leading to one aircraft crashing into water |
| Site | Port Phillip Bay, Victoria, Australia |
| Total fatalities | 2 |
| Total survivors | 2 |
| First aircraft | |
| Type | SIAI-Marchetti S.211 |
| Name | Viper 1 |
| Operator | Jetworks Aviation |
| Registration | VH-DQJ |
| Flight origin | Essendon Airport |
| Destination | Essendon Airport |
| Passengers | 1 |
| Crew | 1 |
| Fatalities | 0 |
| Injuries | 0 |
| Survivors | 2 |
| Second aircraft | |
| Type | SIAI-Marchetti S.211 |
| Name | Viper 2 |
| Operator | Jetworks Aviation |
| Registration | VH-DZJ |
| Flight origin | Essendon Airport |
| Destination | Essendon Airport |
| Passengers | 1 |
| Crew | 1 |
| Fatalities | 2 |
| Missing | 0 |
| Survivors | 0 |
Incident edit
On November 19, 2023, two Marchetti S-211 jet trainers took off from Essendon Fields Airport with the intent of capturing footage for an upcoming film. At 1:45 pm they collided 25 km west of Tyabb Airport. One aircraft, VH-DQJ was able to return to Essendon and made a safe landing. The second, VH-DZJ, crashed into Port Phillip Bay with two occupants on board; they were Stephen Gale, a former RAAF pilot and James Rose, a cameraman who had worked on shows such as MasterChef Australia. On November 22, human remains were recovered from the bay floor.[2] The ATSB is investigating, and recovery of the aircraft wreckage is underway.
References edit
- ^ Murray-Atfield, Yarra (19 November 2023). ""Small jet crashes into Port Phillip Bay after midair collision near Victoria's Mornington Peninsula"". Australian Broadcasting Corporation.
- ^ "Remains of pilot and camera operator believed to be found after Port Phillip Bay plane crash". The Guardian. Australian Associated Press. 2023-11-22. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2023-11-28.
External links edit
- Small jet crashes into Port Phillip Bay after midair collision on Victoria's Mornington Peninsula
- VH-DQJ | SIAI-Marchetti S211 | Private | Lachlan Gatland