Qantas pilot is killed in Belimbla crash along with two others after his plane crashed into another one
A former Qantas pilot has been identified as one of three victims of a horror plane crash in Sydney’s south-west.
Grandfather Gary Criddle, 72, affectionately known as ‘Gaz’ by loved ones, was killed when two light aircraft collided at Belimbla Park, in Oakdale, at 11.50am on Saturday.
Mr Criddle and a 29-year-old man were traveling from Cessnock to Shellharbour Airport on a Cessna 182 when they collided with a Jabiru microlight aircraft, believed to be from The Oaks airfield.
Both the men and the sole occupant of the Jabiru – the 60-year-old pilot – suffered ‘irsurvivable injuries’ and died on the spot.
Mr Criddle’s family said he spent 20 years in the navy and air force before working for Qantas for 31 years.
‘We are absolutely devastated and completely shocked by this tragic loss. Gary, affectionately known as Gaz, was a much-loved husband, father, grandfather and aviator,” his family said in a statement.
Gary Criddle, 72, has been identified as the first victim of Saturday’s light plane crash
Emergency services were called to Belimbla Park in Oakdale just before noon on Saturday (a firefighter is pictured at the scene)
“He was a mentor to many aspiring pilots and an avid adventurer with plans to sail around the world. Gaz was full of fun, laughter and generosity.
“His loss is immeasurable and he will be deeply missed.”
The collision sparked a bushfire when one of the planes hit the ground, with emergency services rushing to extinguish the blaze before they could reach the site.
Smoke was seen billowing into the air above the crash site, with witnesses reporting seeing a ‘fireball’ Seven news.
NSW Police Acting Chief Inspector Timothy Calman said damage at the scene indicated a mid-air collision that sent an aircraft “straight down” into the ground.
The mid-air crash occurred in uncontrolled airspace where there was “much more traffic.”
“The closest place we are to here that was affected by fire would not have been a surviving impact,” Supt Calman said.
“At the second scene, a mile north of here, that plane wasn’t burning, but it wouldn’t have been survivable either.”
He is pictured with his wife Sue Criddle
NSW Police confirmed the crash was fatal, killing three men
An investigation into what went wrong will be handled by the Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB)
NSW Ambulance Inspector Joseph Ibrahim said 10 ambulances, including a helicopter, were deployed to the “confrontational” scene but nothing could be done to save the men.
Police and ATSB officers will interview all witnesses to the crash to understand what happened.
A person living nearby said on Facebook that he saw a parachute open and a plane “dive.”
Another resident said they heard a “loud bang” before everything went quiet.
‘Normal engine noises, then loud bangs, sputtering and then silence. “She ran out of the paddock to see where she was but couldn’t see,” she wrote.
The planes crashed near the Sydney Recreational Flying Club and Dave’s Flying School, but it is not known if either plane was linked to the schools.