This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . It last changed over 40 days ago and won't be checked again for changes.
You can find the current article at its original source at http://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2016/jan/29/several-people-killed-in-barwon-heads-plane-crash-victorian-police-say
The article has changed 6 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 3 | Version 4 |
|---|---|
| Three people killed in Barwon Heads plane crash, Victorian police say | Three people killed in Barwon Heads plane crash, Victorian police say |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| Three people have been found dead after a plane crashed at Barwon Heads, near Geelong in Victoria, on Friday afternoon. | Three people have been found dead after a plane crashed at Barwon Heads, near Geelong in Victoria, on Friday afternoon. |
| Victoria Police and emergency services were at the scene near Bridge Road where the plane went into the water at about 12.30pm, police said. | Victoria Police and emergency services were at the scene near Bridge Road where the plane went into the water at about 12.30pm, police said. |
| While police said they they believed a number of people were deceased, they confirmed three people had been found dead shortly after 2.30pm. | While police said they they believed a number of people were deceased, they confirmed three people had been found dead shortly after 2.30pm. |
| “The cause of the incident is not yet known and we will provide further details once they come to hand,” police said in a statement. | “The cause of the incident is not yet known and we will provide further details once they come to hand,” police said in a statement. |
| A spokeswoman for Victoria police told Guardian Australia there was no official confirmation of deaths yet as emergency services were trying to get close to the crash site. | A spokeswoman for Victoria police told Guardian Australia there was no official confirmation of deaths yet as emergency services were trying to get close to the crash site. |
| The volunteer coastguard in Queenscliff was assisting with the search for the aircraft. A spokeswoman said there were two vessels in the area of the crash with a possible third to be deployed. Coast guard members were also on standby for a callout, and about 10 State Emergency Service volunteers were at the scene. | The volunteer coastguard in Queenscliff was assisting with the search for the aircraft. A spokeswoman said there were two vessels in the area of the crash with a possible third to be deployed. Coast guard members were also on standby for a callout, and about 10 State Emergency Service volunteers were at the scene. |
| UPDATE: Emergency services dispatched to rescue passengers from a plane crash at Barwon Heads. #9News pic.twitter.com/a3EXL2xqNs | UPDATE: Emergency services dispatched to rescue passengers from a plane crash at Barwon Heads. #9News pic.twitter.com/a3EXL2xqNs |
| There were suggestions poor weather could be hampering the search effort. Bureau of Meteorology duty forecaster Stephen King said there had been showers and low cloud at the time of the crash, which was continuing as the search progressed. There was also a risk of a thunderstorm. | There were suggestions poor weather could be hampering the search effort. Bureau of Meteorology duty forecaster Stephen King said there had been showers and low cloud at the time of the crash, which was continuing as the search progressed. There was also a risk of a thunderstorm. |
| Barwon Heads is on the south Victorian coast, on the Bellarine Peninsula about 25km south of Geelong. | Barwon Heads is on the south Victorian coast, on the Bellarine Peninsula about 25km south of Geelong. |
| Two air ambulance helicopters were dispatched following the crash, Ambulance Victoria said on Twitter. | Two air ambulance helicopters were dispatched following the crash, Ambulance Victoria said on Twitter. |
| Air Ambulance at Barwon Heads pic.twitter.com/A1oHj9HpIK | Air Ambulance at Barwon Heads pic.twitter.com/A1oHj9HpIK |
| Jeff Brooks, from Barwon Heads Airport, said the plane was not one from the area. | Jeff Brooks, from Barwon Heads Airport, said the plane was not one from the area. |
| “The plane was not one associated with our airport either,” he said. “To be honest, the weather here is appalling. I’m surprised anyone was flying, I wouldn’t be flying in it. | “The plane was not one associated with our airport either,” he said. “To be honest, the weather here is appalling. I’m surprised anyone was flying, I wouldn’t be flying in it. |
| “People like to fly along the coast because it’s nice to look at, but there’s not much to see on a day like today.” | “People like to fly along the coast because it’s nice to look at, but there’s not much to see on a day like today.” |
| Inspector Graham Banks from Victoria police said the six-seater plane took off from Moorabbin, and while three were confirmed dead, it was believed a fourth person may have also been on board. Police would not confirm where the plane was travelling to until next-of-kin had been informed of the deaths. | |
| “We hope to have the identification of these persons and their next of kin notified before nightfall,” Banks said. | |
| There was a witness to the crash who had been on a boat within a kilometre of the crash site who was “extremely distressed” and being treated for shock by paramedics, Banks said. | |
| Police would provide another update at 4.45pm, he said. |