Plane crash at Essendon DFO

[whatmeworry]

Apparently the pilot sent a mayday. I wonder if they pilot could have crashed land if not for DFO.

Bit worrying how much development they have let build up around Essendon airport.

 

[suze2000]

Okay now the Police are saying that inbound lanes of the Tulla are still closed and outbound lanes are "blocked" (I don't know what that means since the ABC reporter was saying 15 mins ago that she was moving on the Tulla and it was open).

Someone John Faine interviewed (which they played on the telly) said that his taxi was hit by a wheel off the plane. So that explains why the Tulla is closed - there is debris on the road.

 

[Quickstatus]

Apparently the pilot sent a mayday. I wonder if they pilot could have crashed land if not for DFO.

Bit worrying how much development they have let build up around Essendon airport.

Would have then crashed into Calder freeway/Tulla freeway or into housing estates south of that. Reports of the aircraft cartwheeling when it impacted DFO

Would the pilot have made Bulla Road?


RIP

 

[fairbasa]

 

[Dannyism]

Very sad. I don't know a lot about this sort of thing, but I imagine the pilot reduced the loss of life by not crash landing on the freeway or into houses.

 

[Quickstatus]

Very sad. I don't know a lot about this sort of thing, but I imagine the pilot reduced the loss of life by not crash landing on the freeway or into houses.

And luckily DFO does not open until 1000

 

[Guvner]

Yes, I wasn't aware there was a north-south runway, have driven past it enough times, even a couple of weeks ago, hubby and I went to Coolaroo to look at The Castle before it's demolished, but never seen anything taking off or landing in that direction. Plane nerd fail for sure.

My son plays baseball in the park at the Nth end of that runway and I can tell you it's quite busy on weekends.

 

[Pushka]

It has been reported the four passengers were American tourists, headed to the Tasmanian island on a golf trip. The pilot is reportedly an experienced man in his 60s.

If true it will be US news and goodness knows what that media will make of it. They are currently saying no survivors. Just awful.

 

[samh004]

Just saw this on the telly, slightly later than all of you. Doesn't look good. Reminds me of the Taiwanese accident and I wonder if any security camera footage will surface showing the final moments and impact, considering the location.

 

[ontheaisle]

If true it will be US news and goodness knows what that media will make of it. They are currently saying no survivors. Just awful.

It's been on BBC World News so I imagine it will get picked up. Such a terrible incident.

 

[Buzzard]

Fingers crossed for the best possible outcome.

 

[OzEire]

Fingers crossed for the best possible outcome.

Seems unlikely going by the photos. Awful to hear about these incidents, I feel for the families but my mind also turns to the many times I have been in light ac...

 

[coriander]

Seems unlikely going by the photos.

"The Age" a short time ago:

Essendon Airport plane crash live : Five confirmed dead on board in DFO aircraft crash

 

[fairbasa]

ATSB have also confirmed as much:

 

[whatmeworry]

Would have then crashed into Calder freeway/Tulla freeway or into housing estates south of that. Reports of the aircraft cartwheeling when it impacted DFO

Would the pilot have made Bulla Road?


RIP

My understanding the pilot was turning back. My question would the pilot had a better chance at a successful crash landing if not for DFO?

RMIT planning academic Michael Buxton has written widely about airports and their interaction with surrounding housing, offices, shopping centres and industrial businesses.
He said on Tuesday morning that the privatisation of Australian airports had led to their new owners realising they could make "packets of money" by building on vacant land around them.
"But it has placed thousands of people at risk," said Professor Buxton. "It should never have been allowed."
Federal airport land is controlled by the Commonwealth government, which privatised them between 1997 and 2003.
Professor Buxton said that the Essendon Airport DFO was "one of the most extensive commercialisations of any airport in Australia and it has put thousands of people daily within the airport boundaries".
He said the privatisation of airports had been seen as "a huge opportunity" by their new owners. "And no-one prevented it; state governments have been opposed to it, but they have never opposed it strongly enough. Local governments have, but it's more on the basis of [these new retail outlets] competing with shopping centres," he said.

 

[Quickstatus]

other reports suggest aircraft was nosediving/ cartwheeling into the ground at the DFO.

but who knows at this early stage.

the aircraft I think has twin turbine engines - essentially gas turbine engines turning propellors. not piston. And Kings have an autofeather if engine dies - propellor supposed to autofeathers to a low drag position in case of engine failure.

 

[QF WP]

I have a client who works at EssPort and was on my list for today to arrange an appointment. Given their position, I don't think I'll make that call today...

From the damage, I surmise that a wingtip has impacted the back of the loading bay and somersaulted the aircraft into the loading bay...god rest the souls on board.

Catastrophic failure - both engines failed?

 

[JessicaTam]

Fuel is being tested at MEB. Just procedural.

 

[snabbu]

Very sad news.

 

[Quickstatus]

Catastrophic failure - both engines failed?

Dont need both engines to fail to cause this...

https://www.ntsb.gov/_layouts/ntsb.aviation/brief.aspx?ev_id=20141030X24112&key=1