Overview
- Authorities confirmed a small aircraft crashed into waters near Angurugu off Groote Eylandt and began an active response with police and rescue assets.
- A maritime safety aircraft was seen circling the area and rescue vessels, a helicopter, and police planes are involved in the search.
- The plane operator, Air Frontier, identified one of its Beechcraft Baron aircraft as involved and said the flight was a non-commercial repositioning with the pilot believed to be the sole occupant.
- Police divers have been deployed to search the sea floor near the reported impact site to find aircraft debris and evidence to help investigators establish what happened.
- Groote Eylandt’s remote location in the Gulf of Carpentaria is complicating access and recovery efforts and authorities say investigations into the circumstances and the number and condition of occupants are ongoing.