Two pilots managed to "
miraculously
" survive the crash and burning of their water bomber plane which was fighting a fire in Western Australia.
The Boeing 737 left a long mark in the brush and tree-covered landscape when it crashed while being mobilized to put out a bushfire in Fitzgerald National Park, about 420 kilometers to the south -west of Perth.
Aerial footage taken shortly after the crash, which occurred on Monday February 6, showed thick black smoke billowing from the aircraft on the ground, with the rear of the fuselage consumed by flames.
A remarkable ending
Released from the hospital the day after the accident, the two pilots were not identified, but the authorities estimated that they were probably North Americans.
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“
It is quite miraculous that they were able to get out of the plane
,” said Stephen Dawson, minister of state emergency services, during a press conference on Tuesday February 7.
“
We are very happy that they are in good health.
It's a truly remarkable ending.
And that probably speaks to their skills as pilots.
»
A remarkable ending
The large water bomber plane, a converted tourist aircraft, slammed into the ground just 20 seconds after dropping water in the area, officials said.
An investigation has been opened by the Australian Transport Safety Board, which said it was the first "
collision with the ground
" involving a Boeing 737 in Australia.
“
It is remarkable that the two crew members were able to exit the aircraft and are safe and sound
,” Bureau Chief Angus Mitchell said.
“
The fall of a large plane is usually quite catastrophic
”.
Open investigation
But in this crash, the aircraft appears to have hit a ridge before crashing to the ground, he added.
“
It is certain that a horizontal landing, as opposed to a vertical landing on the ground, makes a big difference
”.
Investigators hope to be able to access the crash site from Wednesday, if it is deemed safe, and recover the black box, Mitchell said.
64 accidents involving firefighting aircraft have occurred in the past five years.
The security body is looking at the lessons to be learned from these incidents, he added.
