Two Qantas pilots injured in fatal vintage plane crash in South Africa

https://www.theguardian.com/world/2018/jul/12/two-qantas-pilots-injured-in-fatal-vintage-plane-crash-in-south-africa

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Two Qantas pilots have been injured after a vintage plane crashed while taking off from an airport in South Africa.

They were among the 19 people – 16 passengers, two pilots and a flight engineer – travelling on the 1954 era Convair CV-340 aircraft.

The crash on Tuesday afternoon happened at the Wonderboom airport in Pretoria after the plane faltered soon after takeoff and slammed into a nearby building.

Those killed were the flight engineer and a person in the building hit by the plane, according to South Africa’s Times Live website.

“There were a number of serious injuries with one fatal injury confirmed on the accident scene. In addition, three people who were on the ground were injured. One of them passed away this morning,” the South African Civil Aviation Authority said in a statement.

Private paramedic service ER24 said first responders arrived to find the wreckage alight.

VIDEO Martin's Air Charter Convair CV-340 (ZS-BRV) lifting off from Wonderboom Airport, South Africa which crashed shortly after due to engine problems. Killing 1 of 20. The aircraft was seen trailing brown smoke from the engine on takeoff. (10-JUL-2018). pic.twitter.com/feM0YtJfSH

“Several patients were trapped in the aircraft and their injuries ranged from minor to critical,” a spokesman said.

Times Live said one passenger suffered a double amputation in the crash.

The Australian pilots are A380 captains Douglas Haywood, a flight trainer, and Ross Kelly, who is retired, News Corp reported.

Kelly’s wife, Lyndal, was also on board and believed to be in a stable condition.“We were deeply upset to learn that two Qantas pilots, one current and one retired, were on board the vintage aircraft involved in an accident in South Africa on Tuesday,” a Qantas spokesman said.