Probe ongoing into state’s plane terror

JESSICA MARSZALEK AUSTRALIA’S air accident bureau will decide if it will launch its own investigation into a midair emergency yesterday involving Queensland Police Minister Mark Ryan.

A plane carrying the minister and most of the state’s emergency service command started to shudder and make loud bangs before dropping 56 metres a second.

The Queensland Police Service’s Cessna 530 Citation V twin-jet was forced to turn around half an hour into a Brisbane to Townsville flight over Childers.

The pilots – whose professionalism was hailed by a rattled Mr Ryan – were forced to make a quick descent and flew back to Brisbane.

They reported they had control the entire time.

The VIP party – including the minister, Police Commissioner Ian Stewart, Queensland Emergency Services Commissioner Katarina Carroll, Corrective Services Commissioner Peter Martin, Maritime Safety Queensland Captain Patrick Quirk and a government staffer – had been due to meet Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk for Australia Day celebrations.

As the drama unfolded, it’s understood Commissioner Stewart took charge among passengers, giving reassurance and directing them to follow emergency procedures.

Touching down shortly after 7am, the jet was met by fire trucks and Brisbane Airport Corporation officials.

Mr Ryan admitted he was scared.

“But I knew the fantastic and highly experienced pilots of the Government Air Wing were in control,” he said.

“I’m grateful to them for their professionalism, skill, reassurance, and calmness.”

Captain Quirk said he was resting at home following the ordeal, “trying to bring the mind back to normal speed”.

A detailed report is being submitted to the Civil Aviation Safety Authority and Australian Transport Safety Bureau.

An ATSB spokesman said the investigator was yet to decide if it would open its own probe into the midair drama.

Speaking in Townsville, Ms Palaszczuk assured media the group were unharmed.

“Thankfully everyone was OK and safe,” she said.

“I want to pay tribute to the pilots who took the correct course of action.

“They are of course deeply apologetic about not being here today but safety is the number one priority.”

The police jet, manufactured in 1999, is one of several owned by the government and is used to transport emergency services command, prisoners and organs for transplant around the state.