A trainee pilot has escaped injury after crashing during a low-speed runway excursion at a Royal Australian Air Force base.
It is understood the student was flying a PC-21 Roulette aircraft when it crashed at the RAAF base at East Sale, south-east Victoria, about 2pm on Thursday.
The trainee was taken to the basic medical center for evaluation, but was not injured in the crash.
Local photographer Grant McKillop told Daily Mail Australia he arrived at the runway about three hours after the crash and found dozens of people still there.
“I saw about 20 men in hi-vis vests doing recovery work and two fire engines when I took my photos at 5pm,” Mr McKillop said.
‘That’s it [likely] the investigation crew is taking all the props and items that came out of the plane so that investigators can determine whether the crash was caused by human error or mechanical failure.”
The RAAF has confirmed the incident will be investigated.
Pilots require intensive training to fly the PC-21 Roulette aircraft, which during demonstrations often flies 80 meters at speeds of up to 685 kilometers per hour.
A student at RAAF East Sale base (pictured) in south-east Victoria escaped injury after crashing during a ‘low-speed runway excursion’
The RAAF has confirmed the incident will be investigated
Meanwhile, another student pilot was forced to make an emergency landing at a popular Sunshine Coast beach on Friday after a reported engine failure.
Queensland Police confirmed the small plane landed at Bulcock Beach in Caloundra at 9am and neither the student nor the instructor on board were injured.
Tomas Murray, another flight instructor, praised the onboard instructor who “followed all correct procedures during the emergency.”
“The engine broke down somehow. We do not know the details and will investigate,” Murray wrote on social media.
“Aircraft is OK but will be assessed by flight engineers and a report will be made.”
There’s more to come
Meanwhile, another student pilot was forced to make an emergency landing at a popular Sunshine Coast beach on Friday after a reported engine failure
