The world was stunned on Tuesday when News broke that two pilots had walked away with minor injuries after a Boeing 737 jet used to fight fires in Australia crashed. The twin-engine tanker, owned by Canadian-based Coulson Aviation, went down in Fitzgerald River National Park in southern Western Australia state while fighting wildfires late Monday.
Emergency Services Minister Stephen Dawson said it was nothing short of miraculous that the two pilots were able to walk away from the plane, which was engulfed in flames and smoke upon impact. The two men, believed to be Canadian citizens, were released from a hospital on Tuesday.
The Australian Transport Safety Bureau, the nation’s crash investigator, said Monday’s crash was the first serious accident involving a Boeing 737 in Australia. The plane crashed shortly after dumping its load of water with additives in turbulent conditions. Coulson Aviation is sending executives to Sydney.
Crash investigator Angus Mitchell said it was too early to suggest any link between the two Coulson Aviation crashes or wider implications for Boeing 737 passenger aircraft. He said that it was fairly common for air tankers to be converted from other uses and that it was never one thing that goes wrong, but rather a succession of things.
The plane had taken off from an airport 300 miles away and was the plane’s second retardant drop on an out-of-control wildfire near the coastal town of Hopetoun.
The crash of the Boeing 737 jet is a sobering reminder of the dangers of fighting fires. It is a testament to the courage and dedication of the pilots and crew that they were able to walk away with only minor injuries. It is also a reminder of the importance of safety protocols and procedures when it comes to fighting fires.
The investigation into the crash is ongoing and the results will be closely watched. In the meantime, the Australian government is offering its condolences to the families of the pilots and crew, and expressing its gratitude for their service.
