[Peetwo]

Popinjay...err not to investigate?? 

Example 1, via Oz Aviation:

26-YEAR-OLD QANTAS DASH 8 CATCHES FIRE AT SYDNEY AIRPORT

written by Liam McAneny | November 9, 2022



A Qantas Dash 8-200 caught fire at Sydney airport on Tuesday shortly after landing, leading to 24 passengers evacuating via its front stairs.

The QantasLink Flight 265 had just arrived from Lord Howe Island at 5:40 pm on Tuesday, 8 November. Smoke was seen billowing from 26-year-old VH-TQS’s rear tyres before flames erupted on the rear tyres of the aircraft.

Emergency services arrived at the scene and extinguished the fire shortly after those on board were evacuated.

No passengers were injured in the incident, with many appearing relatively unfazed during the evacuation in footage posted to social media.

QantasLink CEO, Petrea Bradford, said, “Passengers on a flight from Lord Howe Island to Sydney were evacuated following reports of flames near the tyres after the aircraft had landed safely.

“We appreciate this would have been unsettling for passengers, and we thank them and our crew for evacuating in a calm and orderly manner.

“Airport fire crews attended, passengers will be bussed to the terminal, and engineers will inspect the aircraft.”

Despite the fire, reports confirmed that there was no smoke in the cabin and no medical services were required by passengers, despite paramedics arriving at the scene.

The incident comes just a week after Qantas was labelled ‘the spirit of disappointment’ by Choice.

The airline was handed a ‘Shonky’ award for its sub-par performance over the past few years, according to the consumer watchdog group.

Example 2, via the other Aunty:

Glider pilot 'loved soaring flight' as tight-knit community devastated by mid-air crash

ABC Sunshine Coast / By Owen Jacques, Jessica Ross, and Meg Bolton

An 80-year-old pilot who died after a suspected mid-air collision between his glider and an ultra-light aircraft was a man who "loved soaring", friends say as investigations continue into the crash.

Key points:


Police believe an 80-year-old Caboolture man and a 77-year-old from Glenwood were killed when a glider and an ultralight aircraft collided yesterday afternoon

Gliding Australia's safety manager says such incidents "shatter lives, families, and morale"

The Forensic Crash Unit is investigating

Caboolture man Christopher "Bob" Turner was controlling the glider just before 3pm yesterday when the two aircraft came into contact and crashed to the ground at Kybong, near Gympie.

He and fellow pilot Barry Irvine, 77, did not survive.

Their deaths sent waves of sadness across a tight-knit aviation community around the country.

Mr Irvine's family issued a statement today.

"Barry, a talented musician, lived his life to the fullest and flying was his passion for many decades," the statement reads.


Barry Irvine died in a crash at Kybong on Wednesday. (Supplied)

"We extend our sincere condolences to the family of the other pilot involved.

"We would like to acknowledge and express our appreciation to first responders who attended the scene as well as witnesses of the incident and members of the local aero community."

Gliding Australia vice president Lindsay Mitchell said he was shocked to learn of the accident, and said Mr Turner was an experienced glider pilot.


Gliding Australia vice-president Lindsay Mitchell.(ABC News: Laura Lavelle)

"He's flown for decades, and he'd be like the rest of us with gliders. He'd want to be up there looking at those clouds at the moment," Mr Mitchell said.

"He was a very quiet gentleman, very particular, he'd been chief flying instructor at Caboolture Club for a number of years, he'd been an instructor for a number of years, very thorough, very particular."

Mr Mitchell said Mr Turner had stopped instructing in recent years, and said yesterday's flight should have been a run-of-the-mill joy flight.

"He would've gone up there, it was good flying conditions, nice clear air, good thermals," he said.

"He would've just gone up there to enjoy himself." 


Christopher "Bob" Turner (right) has been identified as the 80-year-old Caboolture man who was flying the glider.(Supplied)

Mr Mitchell said the close-knit gliding community was coming to terms with the loss.

"We're just stunned and coping."


It is believed the glider Christopher "Bob" Turner (left) was flying collided mid-air with an ultralight aircraft.(Supplied)

The gliding group's safety manager Drew McKinnie said news of the incident spread quickly, and Sunshine Coast Gliding was a tight-knit club.

"The impact on clubs, families, and friends is massive," he said.

"I have been involved with investigating fatal incidents before.

"It certainly shatters lives, families, and morale.

"My motivation as a safety manager is we have to understand as much as we can about what led to the accident, and what the causes were, so that we can address measures to prevent a recurrence."


Gliding Australia says Mr Turner (far right) was an experienced pilot who "loved soaring flight".(Supplied)

Police describe terrible tragedy

Police Inspector Brad Inskip said the two men were in two separate aircraft — a glider, flown by Mr Turner, and an ultralight believed to have been flown by a 77-year-old from Glenwood, north of Brisbane.

Inspector Inskip said the glider was known to have taken off from the nearby gliding club but it was unclear whether the second aircraft did the same.

"There's no doubt about it, this is a tragic incident," he said.

"It's a terrible scene, terrible incident, and terrible for the family and obviously those involved."


Queensland Police Inspector Brad Inskip says police are investigating whether the aircraft crashed in mid-air.(ABC News: Jessica Ross)

nspector Inskip said the deaths were going to hit the gliding community hard.

"The gliding clubs obviously are very close. This is a small regional gliding club. They all know each other," he said.

He asked anyone with information about the incident to come forward.

'We saw the two aircraft...'


John and Lyndal Kenman heard a loud bang and saw the two aircraft fall to the ground.(ABC News: Jessica Ross)

"You immediately know it's not good."

Mr McKinnie said he felt "intense sadness" when word of the deaths reached him in Canberra.

"It's sadness for the families and friends and club members involved," he said.

"It's a sense of deja-vu — unfortunately the sport has inherent risks and many of us know people who have lost their lives doing the things they loved.

"Our feelings are absolutely with family and friends within that aviation community."

He said due to the early stages of the investigation, it would be inappropriate to comment on the crash itself.


Gliding Australia safety manager Drew McKinnie says the tragedy will bring "intense sadness" for clubs, families, and friends.(Supplied: Australian Defence Force)

The Australian Transport Safety Bureau gathered information about the collision, before confirming it would not investigate.

"The ATSB does not investigate accidents and incidents involving most recreational, ultralight and sports aviation aircraft," ATSB chief commissioner Angus Mitchell said.

"The ATSB would only investigate accidents involving sport aviation aircraft that are not registered with the Civil Aviation Safety Authority, and non-powered glider aircraft, such as those involved in the Kybong accident, on an exception basis, as its resources permit, where conducting such an investigation has the potential to highlight wider safety issues.

"The ATSB empathises with the next of kin who have lost loved ones in this accident and are seeking answers as to how the accident occurred."

The Forensic Crash Unit is investigating the crash.

A report is being prepared for the coroner.


Authorities are investigating the crash at Kybong, near Gympie.(ABC News)

Hmm...(part in bold) turf war? - You bet!   

MTF...P2