Emergency crews respond to mid-air collision

UPDATE 1PM 

Two people aged in their 60s have died following a mid-air collision between two light aircraft at Caboolture Airfield.

The man and woman were travelling in the same aircraft.

The pilot of the other light aircraft -a man believed to be in his 70s - survived.

Queensland Ambulance Service Senior Operations Supervisor Matthew Davis says the pair were pronounced deceased on scene.

“On arrival we found one light air craft that was piloted by a male approximately 70 years of age had landed safely. On assessment, the person had no significant injuries and was left on scene with Queensland Police Service and other agencies,” Mr Davis says.

“Unfortunately, the second light aircraft had crashed. Two occupants located inside that aircraft - one male and one female person approximately 60 years of age - were assessed and unfortunately were pronounced deceased on scene.”

Mr Davis says two supervisors, three response crews and a critical care paramedic had been dispatched to the incident, which occurred just after 10.30am.

Support will now be offered to the attending crews.

“Any incident involving a loss of life, particularly under these circumstances, is extremely difficult and hard for the first responders, and of course the family,” Mr Davis says.

“Queensland Ambulance Service is very fortunate we have robust staff support services in place to help staff manage with traumatic incidents such as these.

“Moving forward, we will have a thorough debrief with the responding Queensland Ambulance crews post incident just to make sure they are ok, and obviously our thoughts and prayers go to the families of those involved."

UPDATE 12.30pm

Two people have died following a mid-air collision involving two light aircraft at Caboolture Airfield.

Acting Assistant District Officer for Moreton District, Superintendent Paul Ready, says investigations are now underway to determine the identities of those who were killed.

“At the moment there are two deceased in a plane that was taking off from the eastern end, we are still trying to confirm who those persons are,” Superintendent Ready says.

“The other person who was in the other aircraft is assisting police and is currently with the investigators trying to piece together what exactly occurred so we can find out the actual events.

“I am unsure of the specifics, but that will come out in the investigation.

“Investigators are on scene along with our counterparts from Queensland Ambulance and Queensland Fire and Rescue

“We have called in our forensic crash unit to do an investigation and The Australian Transport Safety Bureau has been advised.”

It is believed the accident did occur low to the ground.

Police Minister Mark Ryan says the two deceased were in the same plane.

“I understand two people in one plane are deceased, and that is so sad on so many levels,” Minister Ryan says.

“The occupant of the other plane is relatively uninjured.”

EARLIER

Multiple patients are being assessed by emergency services after two light aircraft collided mid-air above Caboolture Airfield.

Police, ambulance and firefighters rushed to the scene shortly after 10.30am, with the incident still ongoing.

A Queensland Police Spokeswoman says “around 10.30am police and emergency services were called to an aviation facility on McNaught Rd after reports of a mid-air collision between two planes”.

A Queensland Ambulance Spokesman confirmed “multiple crews are currently on scene attending to multiple patients”.

A spokesperson from the Australian Transport Safety Bureau says "the Australian Transport Safety Bureau will investigate this morning’s collision between two aircraft at Caboolture Airport". 

More to come.