Tributes have been paid to the pilots who died when two small planes crashed in mid-air in Sydney on Saturday, as investigations into the crash that killed three commenced.
Off-duty Qantas captain and grandfather Gary Criddle, 72, has been identified as the pilot of the Cessna 182 which had left Cessnock, near Newcastle, on its way to Shellharbour, near Wollongong. It collided with a Jabiru being flown by Khadervali Gagguturu, 60, which had taken off from Oaks airfield in south-west Sydney.
The two planes collided shortly before midday on Saturday in the vicinity of Belimbla Park near Oakdale as they were flying through uncontrolled airspace. They then crashed to the ground in areas covered by bushland.
The Cessna 182 – with Criddle and a younger pilot he was instructing onboard – burst into flames on impact with the ground, while Gagguturu’s Jabiru was found a kilometre north of the initial wreckage.
Criddle’s family released a statement paying tribute to the captain, who they said had flown for the air force and navy for two decades as well as for Qantas for 36 years.
“We’re absolutely devastated beyond words and in total shock by this tragic loss. Gary, affectionately known as Gaz, was a very much loved husband, father, grandfather and aviator,” his family said in a statement.
“He was a mentor to many aspiring pilots and an avid adventurer with plans to sail the world. Gaz was full of fun, laughter and generosity. His loss is immeasurable and he will be deeply missed,” the statement said.
Richard Tobiano, Qantas’ chief pilot, said the airline was “deeply upset” and that Criddle “was a highly respected and loved member of the Qantas flying community”.
Gagguturu’s son, Saleem, told Guardian Australia that in addition to flying, his father liked helping others, recalling a contraption he made for a stranger to help their disabled dog walk.
“One day he just saw someone walking their disabled dog near our house, and he approached them and offered to help,” he said.
The Australian Transport Safety Bureau’s (ATSB) team, deployed to the south-west Sydney bushland, will examine air traffic control and flight tracking data, as well as pilot and aircraft maintenance records. They will also interview witnesses of the collision.
The investigation will continue at the agency’s Canberra facilities, with a preliminary report to be released in about two months. ATSB’s chief commissioner, Angus Mitchell, said it was too early to tell what caused the crash.
“It will take my team a number of days to try and sort through what’s on the ground,” he said on Sunday. “One of the planes has been impacted quite heavily by a fire after the collision as well, so that makes it challenging.”
The fire had been marked as under control by fire authorities as of Sunday night.
The mid-air collision occurred in uncontrolled airspace.
“There is a landing field here, and there are some very strict and well established protocols for planes to establish separation, but essentially, they’re doing that separation themselves,” Mitchell said.
“This is known as class-G or non-controlled airspace, so it’s very much up to the pilots in a ‘see and avoid’ principle,” he said.
Joseph Ibrahim, a NSW Ambulance inspector, said 10 ambulance resources including a helicopter had been deployed to the “confronting” scene but nothing could be done.
“The nature of the injuries were unsurvivable,” he said.
The crash sites are near two flying schools: Sydney recreational flying club and Dave’s flying school.
With AAP
This article was amended on 28 October 2024 because an earlier version misspelt Khadervali Gagguturu’s name in the subheading.
