Veteran pilot Glenn Collins has been identified as the pilot who is fighting for his life after crashing during an aerobatics display at the Avalon airshow in front of tens of thousands of spectators.
As Australia’s biggest airshow reopened on Saturday, Paul Bennet airshows confirmed Collins, who performed on its team, was the pilot involved in the crash.
“There was an accident yesterday involving one of our long time Sky Aces pilots during the aerobatic display at the Avalon Australian International airshow,” it said in a statement on Saturday.
“The Bennet family and the Paul Bennet airshows team are thinking of Glenn Collins – who remains in hospital – and his family, at this time.”
The team thanked the medical staff and people from around the world who have sent messages of support.
“Paul Bennet airshows will not be performing at the Avalon Australian International airshow but we hope the public continue to enjoy the world class event,” it said.
According to its website, Collins has more than of 2,700 hours of flying experience and is an avid skydiver, with 83 jumps to his name.
He has flown in several competitions, and was awarded New South Wales and Australian Sportsman champion in 1997, Australian Intermediate champion in 1998 and Victorian Advanced champion in 1999.
Collins, aged in his 50s, was attempting a solo aerobatic manoeuvre at the Avalon airshow on Friday afternoon when he lost control.
His aircraft crashed and skidded along the ground. He was airlifted to Melbourne’s Alfred hospital with serious injuries and was in a critical but stable condition on Saturday morning.
Avalon airshow reopened its doors at 8am on Saturday but the flying display was pushed back to a later start time.
The show was abandoned late on Friday and tens of thousands of spectators sent home so the Australian Transport Safety Bureau could investigate what happened.
The incident happened away from onlookers and no one else was injured.
Lauchlan Broughton, a witness to the crash, said the plane was attempting to pull out of a dive when it hit the ground.
“He had done a controlled dive before and he got to about 10 metres above the ground. I thought to myself that he was getting quite low to the ground but they’re professionals, that’s part of the performance,” Broughton told Guardian Australia.
“But when he went for it this time, he just crashed into the ground. Maybe the plane didn’t catch enough air to get the lift it needed.”
Broughton said it was lucky the plane “landed how it did”.
“It happened so quickly we didn’t know how to react,” he said.
“The crowd was really quiet and people were just standing there waiting to hear the [pilot’s] condition. There was a round of applause when they said that he is alive.”
The wreck of the orange plane – a Wolf Pitts Pro aircraft capable of travelling at a top speed of 414km/h – came to a stop near the tarmac and sparked a small grass fire.
The circumstances of the crash were yet to be determined, Victoria police said.
Australian Transport Safety Bureau officials will examine the site.
They will also look at flight information, pilot and aircraft maintenance records, weather and other data.
Anyone with video footage of the plane in the air or the crash has been urged to contact investigators.
A Jetstar flight due to fly from Sydney to Avalon late on Friday was diverted to Melbourne’s Tullamarine airport because of the crash.
With AAP
