Missing Queensland plane found at Clarke Ranges as couple found dead and final posts emerge
Tragedy after missing plane is found near Queensland: couple killed in crash were about to have a baby
- Couple found dead after plane crash
- The couple is expecting a baby girl
A missing pilot made a video of him joyride in a light plane days before he and his pregnant wife died in a plane crash.
Rhiley Kuhrt and his partner Maree set out from Natal Downs cattle station, south of Charters Towers in rural Queensland, on Sunday afternoon.
Their white-and-green Piper Cherokee failed to arrive at Lakeside Airpark, in Prosperine, later that day, prompting a desperate search by authorities.
The two-day search came to an end after teams discovered the wreckage of the missing plane in the Clarke Ranges on Monday.
Since then, new details have emerged about the couple revealing that Mr. Kuhrt had a great passion for flying and regularly posted photos and videos on Facebook.
Ms Kuhrt was also expecting a baby girl in June and is said to have been on a plane to attend a medical appointment at Prosperine Hospital.
A missing pilot made a video of him joyride in a light plane days before he and his pregnant wife died in a plane crash
New details have since emerged about the couple revealing that Mr Kuhrt had a great passion for flying and regularly posted photos and videos on Facebook
Mr Kuhrt’s latest post was a video recording of one of his many flights over rural South West Queensland.
“Wick afternoon on the sorghum harvest and a little fun,” the message read.
In another video, we see Mr. Kuhrt smiling and laughing for the camera as a handful of dogs sit in the back of the plane and four dogs sit.
The camera then pans down to the mountainous areas extending below the aircraft.
The couple were preparing for the arrival of their baby girl after making the announcement to family and friends on Instagram in December.
They had celebrated a gender reveal party with loved ones in February.
Ms. Kuhrt shared a video of the mother-to-be and her partner riding a pair of horses.
Their family and friends stood nearby before popping the confetti cannons to reveal it was a girl.
Her last post on Instagram was a selfie with her baby bump.
Now 27 weeks! Getting closer to meeting the little girl,” she wrote.
Mr. Kuhrt is the son of a senior sergeant of the Mackay District Police Department and Chief Stockman and Pilot at Nerrigundah Station.
The desperate search for the missing couple was launched on Sunday by the Australian Maritime Safety Authority’s Joint Rescue Coordination Centre
The desperate search for the missing couple was launched on Sunday by the Australian Maritime Safety Authority’s Joint Rescue Coordination Centre.
Two helicopters and a fixed-wing plane failed to find any trace of the missing plane last night.
Bureau of Meteorology service forecaster Ricus Lombard said search teams had to contend with poor and wet conditions.
‘It’s getting less… (but the) potential with showers and storms. There’s also quite a bit of cloud cover,” Lombard said.
“There’s a weak trough to the north, so there’s some rain and storm in the area.”
An AMSA spokesman said the search resumed the next day before the plane’s wreckage was found.
“At 10:15 am (AEST) this morning, a crash site was found in the Clarke Ranges west of Proserpine by a QG Air Rescue helicopter in Townsville,” he said.
An aircraft at the crash site has been confirmed to be the light aircraft reported missing after leaving Natal Downs Station in Queensland yesterday afternoon.
“Queensland Police is coordinating with the next of kin.”
More to come
Two helicopters and a fixed-wing plane failed to find any trace of the missing plane last night