Aussie plane crashes into ferris wheel
- 13 years ago
The wrecked body of a plane dangles from a ferris wheel around 300 km north of Sydney.
Four people were rescued, including two children, after the ultra-light plane smashed into the park attraction near Old Bar town on Saturday morning.
Miraculously, no one was hurt in the incident.
The 53-year-old pilot Paul Cox says the plane saved his life.
(SOUNDBITE) (English) PILOT, PAUL COX
"But I wouldn't be here now if it wasn't for that plane. They're made so well, those planes. (Reporter: "Pretty strong ferris wheel too)... Yeah, I'm amazed. And the guy asked me if I've got any Al Qaeda background, and I went, 'no'".
The spectacle drew many onlookers as well as families members who watched the rescue with bated breath.
(SOUNDBITE) (English) DAUGHTER OF RESCUED PASSENGER
"When the fuel went down, I thought the airplane was going to explode."
The plane's passenger said rescuing the children was the first priority.
(SOUNDBITE) (English) RESCUED PASSENGER, JOHN, SAYING:
"We hoped we hadn't hit no one, like, seriously injured no one. That was our main concern. Then, when we found out we had kids, you know, I think it was in the one next to us or a couple down, it was like no, get the kids out first. Don't worry about us. Just get the damn kids out."
Cox was practicing maneuvers at a nearby airstrip.
Authorities are launching an investigation.
Jessica Gray, Reuters
Four people were rescued, including two children, after the ultra-light plane smashed into the park attraction near Old Bar town on Saturday morning.
Miraculously, no one was hurt in the incident.
The 53-year-old pilot Paul Cox says the plane saved his life.
(SOUNDBITE) (English) PILOT, PAUL COX
"But I wouldn't be here now if it wasn't for that plane. They're made so well, those planes. (Reporter: "Pretty strong ferris wheel too)... Yeah, I'm amazed. And the guy asked me if I've got any Al Qaeda background, and I went, 'no'".
The spectacle drew many onlookers as well as families members who watched the rescue with bated breath.
(SOUNDBITE) (English) DAUGHTER OF RESCUED PASSENGER
"When the fuel went down, I thought the airplane was going to explode."
The plane's passenger said rescuing the children was the first priority.
(SOUNDBITE) (English) RESCUED PASSENGER, JOHN, SAYING:
"We hoped we hadn't hit no one, like, seriously injured no one. That was our main concern. Then, when we found out we had kids, you know, I think it was in the one next to us or a couple down, it was like no, get the kids out first. Don't worry about us. Just get the damn kids out."
Cox was practicing maneuvers at a nearby airstrip.
Authorities are launching an investigation.
Jessica Gray, Reuters