NT: Plane lands in Darwin Harbour
By Tara Ravens06 Feb 2009 3:54 PM
Eds: Revises the number of people aboard from seven to six following updated information
DARWIN, Feb 6 AAP - An Australian pilot has been praised after he ditched a light plane safely into Darwin Harbour in a dramatic scene reminiscent of America's Hudson River landing.
Six people were aboard the plane when it experienced a "loss of power" shortly after take-off from Darwin Airport on Friday morning.
Pilot Steve Bolle, who works for IT company CSG, was forced to make an emergency landing in the shallow tidal waters off East Point Reserve about 8.40am (CST).
"Apparently the pilot experienced some engine troubles on take-off," said NT Duty Superintendent Rob Farmer.
"He realised that he would not be able to make it back to the airport so he has made a decision to land it (near) the beach."
The Piper Chieftain came to rest on a sand bank, about 200 metres from the shore, at the reserve on the outskirts of the city.
Supt Farmer said it was not known what caused the engine troubles, but it was clear Mr Bolle had done "a remarkable job" of getting the plane - and all its passengers - down safely.
"The pilot should be commended for keeping a level head and acting appropriately to ensure the safety of his passengers," he said.
US pilot Captain Chesley "Sully" Sullenberger became a celebrity after he glided an Airbus 320 over the George Washington Bridge and into the Hudson River on January 15.
The US Airways Flight 1549 lost power after a flock of birds flew into the engine. All 155 people aboard survived.
In a statement on its website, computer technology company CSG - which privately owns the plane and employs all those aboard - praised Mr Bolle for his quick thinking.
"At this point the cause of the incident remains unknown," it said.
"However we would like to congratulate the pilot following all emergency landing and evacuation procedures and his very professional handling of the situation."
Mr Bolle was flying five computer technicians to the remote Arnhem Land community of Maningrida, 500km east of Darwin, where they were going to conduct maintenance work on the school, health clinic and police networks.
CSG managing director Denis Mackenzie told Fairfax there had been a loss of power in one of the engines.
"(The pilot) was very cool about it," he said.
"It was definitely really dramatic, it happened so soon after they took off so to go up and come down again like that ..."
Mr Mackenzie said the passengers were shaken but otherwise unhurt. They were able to wade through shallow water to get to land, where they were checked over by ambulance crews shortly after 9am (CST).
The technicians were given the all clear and no one required hospital treatment.
As they were driven away from the crash site, one grateful passenger had a few words of praise for the man who saved his life.
"He did a good job," the passenger told reporters.
Supt Farmer said emergency teams were working to remove the partly submerged plane from the water before the turn of the tide.
The incident is being investigated by the Air Transport Safety Bureau.
