A plane has crashed into the ground in front of an air show audience.
The crowd at the Avalon Airshow in Victoria, Australia, were watching a performance by the Sky Aces Formation Aerobatic Team.
The aircraft hurtled to the ground during a manoeuvre on Friday at roughly 5.15pm prompting the emergency services to rush to the scene.
Local reports indicate the small aircraft was performing a loop as part of an aerobatic show and didn’t pull up properly before crashing into the ground near the runway.
A loudspeaker at the show announced the pilot is alive but they remain in a critical condition.
The entire airshow has been closed for the day and flying displays have been suspended.
Matthew, an eyewitness in disbelief from Melbourne, said the crowd “fell silent” as the plane plunged into the ground.
He told Daily Mail Australia: “The orange plane was doing a loop and didn’t pull up. He just went straight into the ground.
“I said to my mate before coming I had a bad feeling a plane would crash and then it happened.
“The crowd just fell silent. It was weird.
“If he had another 2-3 meters he would have made it.”
The plane was one of four from the Sky Aces Formation Aerobatic Team. The pilot is unknown, but the Avalon 2025 website lists Paul Bennett, Glenn Graham, Jesse Jury and Glenn Collins as members of the Sky Aces Formation Aerobatic Team.
Held between Melbourne and Geelong in Victoria the airshow has a strong focus on military aviation, featuring aircraft from the Royal Australian Air Force, United States Navy and the United States Air Force. Event organisers say it is the largest air show in the southern hemisphere.
V/Line, the service that runs regional trains in Victoria, said Avalon services were only operating in one direction after the incident. No public transport is available from Lara Station to Avalon Airport for the remainder of today.
Victoria Police who responded to the crash alongside two emergency vehicles say “the exact circumstance surrounding the crash are yet to be determined”.
The statement read: “Emergency services were called to reports the plane, which was conducting a demonstration during an air show, had lost control and crashed into the tarmac about 5.15pm
“The pilot and sole occupant of the aircraft sustained serious injuries.
“The incident occurred a significant distance away from spectators and there have been no reports of further injuries.
“The exact circumstance surrounding the crash are yet to be determined.”
“Paramedics responded to an aircraft incident in Avalon around 5.35pm,” Ambulance Victoria stated.
“There is one patient with upper and lower body injuries, in a serious condition.
“An air ambulance has been dispatched.”
Avalon Airshow’s organiser AMDA Foundation released a statement from chief executive Justin Giddings who said: “The Avalon Australian International Airshow concluded the day’s activities to allow the Australian Transport Safety Bureau investigation team to have full and free access to the site,’ he said.
“We are continuing with preparations to recommence the airshow tomorrow morning, subject to confirmation this evening.
“Our thoughts are with the pilot and his family, friends and team members.”