This article is from the source 'guardian' and was first published or seen on . The next check for changes will be
You can find the current article at its original source at https://www.theguardian.com/australia-news/2025/sep/29/eight-skydivers-leapt-from-plane-minutes-before-it-crashed-killing-pilot-in-nsw
The article has changed 3 times. There is an RSS feed of changes available.
| Version 1 | Version 2 |
|---|---|
| Eight skydivers leapt from plane minutes before it crashed killing pilot in NSW | Eight skydivers leapt from plane minutes before it crashed killing pilot in NSW |
| (about 7 hours later) | |
| Paul Smith, 54, died in a crash in dense bushland near Moruya airport on Saturday | Paul Smith, 54, died in a crash in dense bushland near Moruya airport on Saturday |
| Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updates | Follow our Australia news live blog for latest updates |
| Get our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcast | Get our breaking news email, free app or daily news podcast |
| Eight skydivers leapt out of a light plane minutes before it crashed and killed experienced pilot Paul Smith. | Eight skydivers leapt out of a light plane minutes before it crashed and killed experienced pilot Paul Smith. |
| The light plane crash landed in thick bush near to Moruya airport on NSW’s south coast on Saturday afternoon, with Smith the only remaining occupant of the aircraft. | The light plane crash landed in thick bush near to Moruya airport on NSW’s south coast on Saturday afternoon, with Smith the only remaining occupant of the aircraft. |
| The 54-year-old pilot and skydiving instructor died at the scene. | The 54-year-old pilot and skydiving instructor died at the scene. |
| “He was a very well-respected, very experienced, and very well-liked local resident,” Det Insp Justin Marks told reporters on Sunday. | “He was a very well-respected, very experienced, and very well-liked local resident,” Det Insp Justin Marks told reporters on Sunday. |
| “The death or sudden death of anyone in a small community is very tragic.” | “The death or sudden death of anyone in a small community is very tragic.” |
| Police are preparing a report for the coroner. | Police are preparing a report for the coroner. |
| The crash happened roughly two minutes after the skydivers exited the plane at roughly 14,000 feet to start their descent. All eight landed safely within the airport grounds. | The crash happened roughly two minutes after the skydivers exited the plane at roughly 14,000 feet to start their descent. All eight landed safely within the airport grounds. |
| The chief commissioner of the Australian Transport Safety Bureau, Angus Mitchell, said investigators were yet to speak to the skydivers but other witnesses had observed “unusual sounds and flight pattern” shortly before the accident. | The chief commissioner of the Australian Transport Safety Bureau, Angus Mitchell, said investigators were yet to speak to the skydivers but other witnesses had observed “unusual sounds and flight pattern” shortly before the accident. |
| Investigators were also seeking information on weather and conditions from the Bureau of Meteorology. | Investigators were also seeking information on weather and conditions from the Bureau of Meteorology. |
| Mitchell said the plane, built around 1980, was subject to a “fairly substantive maintenance check” prior to being brought into Australia about six weeks earlier and had done a number of flights before the incident. | Mitchell said the plane, built around 1980, was subject to a “fairly substantive maintenance check” prior to being brought into Australia about six weeks earlier and had done a number of flights before the incident. |
| Sign up to Breaking News Australia | Sign up to Breaking News Australia |
| Get the most important news as it breaks | Get the most important news as it breaks |
| after newsletter promotion | after newsletter promotion |
| He said the investigation was still in its early stages and a preliminary report could be expected within eight weeks. | He said the investigation was still in its early stages and a preliminary report could be expected within eight weeks. |
| Smith had more than 20 years’ flying experience and piloted more that 20,000 supervised parachuting jumps. He was awarded the Australian Parachute Federation’s highest honour last year – the master of sport parachuting – for his achievements and contributions to the sport. | Smith had more than 20 years’ flying experience and piloted more that 20,000 supervised parachuting jumps. He was awarded the Australian Parachute Federation’s highest honour last year – the master of sport parachuting – for his achievements and contributions to the sport. |
| This article was amended on 29 September 2025. An earlier version’s subheading incorrectly stated that the crash happened on Sunday. |