Investigations will continue throughout Friday after six people were hospitalised after a light plane carrying 17 people ran off the Barwon Heads Airport runway.
The plane took off from the airport at about 7.50am carrying passengers ready for a skydive, when it’s understood the plane got into difficulty before making an emergency landing nearby in Connewarre.
Ambulance Victoria has confirmed at least six people have been taken to hospital with non-life-threatening injuries, while the other 11 patients were assessed by paramedics at the scene.
Emergency crews are expected to remain on scene near Mattews Road in Leopold as investigations into the exact circumstances of the incident remain ongoing.
It’s the sixth skydiving incident involving the Barwon Heads Airport in the past decade, including last years tragic fatal incident where a 34-year-old man was killed in a wingsuit jump in June.
Two men were also injured in April last year when they collided mid-air while skydiving and a 35-year-old instructor from Mildura died when diving in July 2021.
Skydiving the Great Ocean Road operate out of the local airport.
Meanwhile the same Cessna 208 VH-UMV aircraft (pictured above) involved during Friday morning’s incident had issues in 2009 when the engine stopped at 12,500ft while carrying skydivers for a jump.
Parachutists jumped out and the pilot glided to a safe landing during the attempted dive in Cairns.
The Department of Civil Aviation has been notified of Friday’s incident.
