IT’S TOO SAD FOR WORDS
‘Unthinkable’ tragedy claims five in Lockhart River plane crash
THE Far North has been left heartbroken again in an “unthinkable” tragedy near the site of one of Australia’s worst air disasters.
Four QBuild workers and a pilot, all of Cairns, died when a twin-engine Cessna 404 Titan smashed into sand dunes in poor weather near Lockhart River on Cape York yesterday.
It had made two attempts to land with tragedy striking on the third.
Far North Acting Chief Superintentdent Chris Hodgeman said it was unthinkable for a crash to occur so close to where a twin-prop Metroliner went down on Iron Range, near the airstrip, killing all 15 on board in 2005.
QBuild staff, with four of the victims based out of the government department in Cairns, have been offered grief counselling as police work to contact next-of-kin.
The Far North’s CFMEU representative Rolly Cummins said the union was helping provide support for staff.
“We’re working with Mates in Construction who do counselling for those who need help,” he said.
Lockhart River Mayor Wayne Butcher said the whole community was grieving.
A team of investigators will fly to the remote Aboriginal township, 760km north of Cairns, today to assess the scene.
FIVE men have been killed in a light plane crash in an “unthinkable” tragedy near the site of one of Australia’s worst air disasters in far north Queensland.
Four Q Build workers and the pilot, all of Cairns, died when a twin-engine Cessna 404 Titan smashed into sand dunes in poor weather near Lockhart River on Cape York yesterday.
“It made two attempts to land, on the third occasion the plane has tragically crashed,’’ Far North Acting Chief Superintendent Chris Hodgman said.
“Nobody has survived that crash.”
Police last night guarded the “devastating scene” of the aircraft wreckage and the bodies of the five victims, with a team of investigators due to fly into the remote Aboriginal township, 760km north of Cairns today.
It is close to where an illfated passenger jet crashed on Iron Range, near the airstrip, killing all 15 people on-board in 2005.
“It is quite surreal to have another tragedy like this at Lockhart River,’’ Acting Chief Superintendent Hodgman said.
“It’s unthinkable really.” Witnesses told how heavy cloud and rain from a brewing tropical low yesterday blanketed the runway, reducing visibility as the plane was flying low on approach over the beach from the sea about 9.15am. It is unclear if the pilot made a Mayday call or was in radio contact in the moments before the crash.
And it was “too early” to comment about the possible cause of the latest crash or other factors, police said.
“We know weather conditions are pretty rough up there at the moment,’’ Act Chief Supt Hodgman said.
“If you know Lockhart River it is quite interesting terrain, there are monsoonal winds, providing some challenging conditions.
“There are some challenges to get to the crash site, with the weather conditions and availability of flights.
“It took us quite some time to locate the plane. It was overdue from 11am and it was not until 1.20pm that we located the wreckage.”
Q Build staff, with four of the victims based out of the government department in Cairns, have been offered grief counselling as police work to contact next-of-kin.
Efforts to contact highly regarded pilot and aircraft maintenance engineer Grant Sindelar, who held the longterm lease to the Cessna 404 registration VH-OZO operating under the company name of Airconnect Australia, were last night unsuccessful.
Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk last night tweeted: “A tragic loss of life on Cape York today. I offer my deep condolences to the families and friends who are grieving for their loved ones tonight.”
Lockhart River Mayor Wayne Butcher said the weather yesterday was eerily “exactly the same” as the day of the 2005 tragedy.
“It was terrible weather this morning. It’s been full-on rain,’’ he said.
“Our whole community is grieving this awful loss. These guys on that plane were here to
help us rebuild our community. We had a cyclone hit us this time last year, it’s just one tragedy to the next.”
The ATSB said experienced investigators would be sent to the location of the crash.
It is understood the charter flight left Cairns Airport about 8.20am and was due to land at Lockhart River Airport just before 10am.
The plane is registered to West Australian company Aerohire and was used for charter flights.
A spokesman for Aerohire said the plane had been on a long-term lease to Airconnect Australia. It had been leased for more than 12 months.