Australia\'s Water-bombing plane crash kills 3 US firefighters
4 years, 11 months ago

Australia\'s Water-bombing plane crash kills 3 US firefighters

Deccan Chronicle  

Sydney: A large water-bombing plane crashed while fighting fires southwest of Sydney on Thursday, killing all three US crew on board, Australian officials said. New South Wales Rural Fire Service commissioner Shane Fitzsimmons said authorities lost contact with the Canada-owned C-130 Hercules aircraft, which was operating in the Snowy Monaro region, shortly before 1:30 pm Thursday. Fitzsimmons said all three people killed in the crash were residents of the United States, one of several countries that have sent crews of specialist firefighters to help battle Australia's devastating bushfires. Canadian firm Coulson Aviation, which owned the plane, grounded operations of its other large air tankers fighting fires in New South Wales and Victoria states "pending review" of the aircraft, Fitzsimmons said. New South Wales Premier Gladys Berejiklian said the crash highlighted the dangerous work being undertaken by firefighters as they attempted to extinguish massive blazes across Australia's southeast.

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History of this topic

Runway fire breaks out at Sydney Airport after emergency landing
2 months ago

Runway fire breaks out at Sydney Airport after emergency landing

Associated Press  

WELLINGTON, New Zealand — An engine failure on a passenger plane taking off from Sydney, Australia on Friday prompted the aircraft to circle before a safe emergency landing, the airline Qantas said. At the same time, a grass fire broke out along one side of a runway, Sydney Airport said in a statement. “We understand this would have been a …

Three killed after two light aircraft collide midair near Sydney
2 months, 2 weeks ago

Three killed after two light aircraft collide midair near Sydney

The Independent  

For free real time breaking news alerts sent straight to your inbox sign up to our breaking news emails Sign up to our free breaking news emails Please enter a valid email address Please enter a valid email address SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Please try again later {{ …

Thick smog engulfs Sydney as firefighters race to tackle huge bushfire from air
1 year ago

Thick smog engulfs Sydney as firefighters race to tackle huge bushfire from air

The Independent  

Sign up to the Independent Climate email for the latest advice on saving the planet Get our free Climate email Get our free Climate email SIGN UP I would like to be emailed about offers, events and updates from The Independent. Read our privacy policy Sydney’s air quality plummeted to one of the world’s worst levels on Tuesday, as bushfires …

3 firefighters killed as light plane crashes in Australia's Queensland
1 year, 2 months ago

3 firefighters killed as light plane crashes in Australia's Queensland

India Today  

A light plane crashed in a remote area of Australia's Queensland state on Saturday, killing three firefighters who were on board, police said late on Saturday. Emergency authorities were notified around 2.30 pm local time that the plane had crashed near the outback town of McKinlay, which is roughly 1,500 kilometres north of the state capital Brisbane. "The light plane …

Two pilots survive after 737 large air tanker crashes in Fitzgerald River National Park while battling bushfires
1 year, 11 months ago

Two pilots survive after 737 large air tanker crashes in Fitzgerald River National Park while battling bushfires

ABC  

Two pilots have walked away with minor injuries after a large air tanker crashed while battling two bushfires in regional Western Australia on Monday afternoon. Key points: The Boeing 737 took off from Busselton to tackle a fire on WA's south coast It crashed over an hour later, with investigations underway into the cause An expert says it is "simply …

NSW bushfire air tanker crash victims honoured at memorial service
4 years, 11 months ago

NSW bushfire air tanker crash victims honoured at memorial service

ABC  

Three Americans killed in an air tanker crash while fighting a bushfire in New South Wales have been described as heroes who "paid the ultimate sacrifice" during a memorial service in Sydney. Key points: The crew members were killed when their C-130 Large Air Tanker crashed near Cooma on January 23 They had completed 140 missions since they began working …

Family of the three 'fallen heroes' who died when their water-bombing plane crashed arrive in Sydney
4 years, 11 months ago

Family of the three 'fallen heroes' who died when their water-bombing plane crashed arrive in Sydney

Daily Mail  

The devastated families of the three heroic Americans killed when their firefighting plane crashed in Australia have begun arriving in Sydney. The families of captain Ian McBeth, first officer Paul Clyde Hudson and flight engineer Rick DeMorgan Jr will be offered the chance to visit the crash site northeast of Cooma. An upset woman was seen being escorted through Sydney …

Coulson Aviation names three aerial firefighters who died in NSW tanker crash
4 years, 11 months ago

Coulson Aviation names three aerial firefighters who died in NSW tanker crash

ABC  

A Canadian-US aerial firefighting company has named the three Americans killed in an air tanker crash on Thursday in south-east New South Wales. Key points: The three American men who were killed in the crash were aged 44, 42 and 43 years old They had experience in the Air National Guard, Marine Corps and US Air Force The aerial firefighting …

3 U.S. firefighters killed in Australia air crash amid bush fires are identified
4 years, 11 months ago

3 U.S. firefighters killed in Australia air crash amid bush fires are identified

LA Times  

An aviation company has identified the three U.S. crew members who died battling Australia‘s bush fires, after their California-based air tanker crashed in a rugged part of the country’s coastal mountains. The C-130 Hercules aerial water tanker, owned by Coulson Aviation, crashed while flying in the Snowy Monaro region of southern Australia’s New South Wales state, officials said. There was …

Australia Fires: Military deployed to keep deadly fires from spreading further — 'It's an atomic bomb,' say authorities
5 years ago

Australia Fires: Military deployed to keep deadly fires from spreading further — 'It's an atomic bomb,' say authorities

Firstpost  

Authorities claim that the evacuations are likely the largest peacetime maritime rescue operation in Australian history. “There’s nowhere safe,” said Liddy Lant, a hospital cleaner still in her uniform who had fled from her home on Saturday. “I could seriously just sit down and cry.” The Fire Commissioner of the Rural Fire Service in New South Wales, Shane Fitzsimmons, told …

Devastating weekend of bushfires takes death toll to 24
5 years ago

Devastating weekend of bushfires takes death toll to 24

Daily Mail  

Three fires spanning two states are threatening to merge into a terrifying 'mega-blaze' as locals are told to urgently flee - but many are defying the orders and staying to defend their homes. Two people are missing in southern New South Wales, one near Bodalla on the South Coast and the other person from Bombala near the Victorian border, Rural …

Australian authorities deploy military ships, aircraft to reach towns cut off by ‘apocalyptic’ wildfires; seven dead in blazes this week
5 years ago

Australian authorities deploy military ships, aircraft to reach towns cut off by ‘apocalyptic’ wildfires; seven dead in blazes this week

Firstpost  

Australia deployed military ships and aircraft on Wednesday to help communities ravaged by apocalyptic wildfires that destroyed homes and sent thousands of residents and holidaymakers fleeing to the shoreline. Perth: Australia deployed military ships and aircraft on Wednesday to help communities ravaged by apocalyptic wildfires that destroyed homes and sent thousands of residents and holidaymakers fleeing to the shoreline. Since …

Fires in Australia: Seven people have died in the past 24 hours
5 years ago

Fires in Australia: Seven people have died in the past 24 hours

CNN  

CNN — Seven people have died in the past 24 hours in the Australian state of New South Wales as blazing wildfires continue to tear through bushland and towns. Saeed Khan/AFP via Getty Images A Royal Australian Navy MH-60R Seahawk "Romeo" helicopter refuels onboard HMAS Adelaide during Operation Bushfire Assist, on Sunday, January 5, in this image provided by the …

Are bigger water bombers the answer to Australia's bushfire woes?
5 years, 1 month ago

Are bigger water bombers the answer to Australia's bushfire woes?

ABC  

It has become a familiar and reassuring sight — planes and helicopters dumping loads of water and fire retardant on out-of-control blazes. Key points: After this week's catastrophic fire levels, experts are asking if we have enough firefighting aircraft available year-round Large aircraft and helicopters are expensive to lease, so firefighters borrow aircraft from the northern hemisphere when needed Fire …

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