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MoreQuiet 14d · day 14

ATSB confirms pilot's emergency landing on Lake Eyre, no injuries reported

A Sling 4 light plane landed safely on Kati Thanda-Lake Eyre after the pilot became unwell, with both occupants rescued and minimal damage.

newest coverage 13d agosummary written 10d ago3 pieces NewswiresMastodonGoogle News

What to know

  • A Sling 4 light plane made an emergency landing on Kati Thanda-Lake Eyre on October 19 after the pilot became unwell; both occupants were rescued safely with no injuries.
  • The aircraft sustained minor damage when its propeller struck the ground; it was airlifted out days later.
  • The Australian Transport Safety Bureau confirmed the incident but said it is not investigating; landing on the lake is prohibited without emergency necessity under Australian law.
  • Recent record rainfall has filled Lake Eyre to its highest level in decades, creating a deceptive surface of thin salt crust over boggy ground that can be unsafe for aircraft.

“But after a bit of rain, like we had rain a few days before that guy landed, it would have left a bit of a bog underneath and a thin crusty layer of salt over the top.”

Tekin Benli, Marree-based pilot · ABC News ↗

Australian Transport Safety Bureau Aviation regulatorAustralian Maritime Safety Authority Maritime regulatorTekin Benli Marree-based pilotCivil Aviation Safety Authority Aviation compliance authority

How it unfolded 1 development · click the chart to see its coverage articlesposts

Peak 3 pieces in 4h at Oct 28, 8 PM; 3 pieces over 14 days (2 articles · 1 post) Oct 28, 8 PM — 3 pieces · 2 articles · 1 post — Google News 1, Mastodon 1, Newswires 1Oct 29, 12 AM — quietOct 29, 4 AM — quietOct 29, 8 AM — quietOct 29, 12 PM — quietOct 29, 4 PM — quietOct 29, 8 PM — quietOct 30, 12 AM — quietOct 30, 4 AM — quietOct 30, 8 AM — quietOct 30, 12 PM — quietOct 30, 4 PM — quietOct 30, 8 PM — quietOct 31, 12 AM — quietOct 31, 4 AM — quietOct 31, 8 AM — quietOct 31, 12 PM — quietOct 31, 4 PM — quietOct 31, 8 PM — quietNov 1, 12 AM — quietNov 1, 3 AM — quietNov 1, 7 AM — quietNov 1, 11 AM — quietNov 1, 3 PM — quietNov 1, 7 PM — quietNov 1, 11 PM — quietNov 2, 3 AM — quietNov 2, 7 AM — quietNov 2, 11 AM — quietNov 2, 3 PM — quietNov 2, 7 PM — quietNov 2, 11 PM — quietNov 3, 3 AM — quietNov 3, 7 AM — quietNov 3, 11 AM — quietNov 3, 3 PM — quietNov 3, 7 PM — quietNov 3, 11 PM — quietNov 4, 3 AM — quietNov 4, 7 AM — quietNov 4, 11 AM — quietNov 4, 3 PM — quietNov 4, 7 PM — quietNov 4, 11 PM — quietNov 5, 3 AM — quietNov 5, 7 AM — quietNov 5, 11 AM — quietNov 5, 3 PM — quietNov 5, 7 PM — quietNov 5, 11 PM — quietNov 6, 3 AM — quietNov 6, 7 AM — quietNov 6, 11 AM — quietNov 6, 3 PM — quietNov 6, 7 PM — quietNov 6, 11 PM — quietNov 7, 3 AM — quietNov 7, 7 AM — quietNov 7, 11 AM — quietNov 7, 3 PM — quietNov 7, 7 PM — quietNov 7, 11 PM — quietNov 8, 3 AM — quietNov 8, 7 AM — quietNov 8, 11 AM — quietNov 8, 3 PM — quietNov 8, 7 PM — quietNov 8, 11 PM — quietNov 9, 3 AM — quietNov 9, 7 AM — quietNov 9, 11 AM — quietNov 9, 3 PM — quietNov 9, 7 PM — quietNov 9, 11 PM — quietYesterday, 3 AM — quietYesterday, 7 AM — quietYesterday, 11 AM — quietYesterday, 3 PM — quietYesterday, 7 PM — quietYesterday, 11 PM — quietToday, 3 AM — quietToday, 7 AM — quietToday, 11 AM — quietToday, 3 PM — quiet 1
Oct 29Oct 31Nov 2Nov 4Nov 6Nov 8now · 7:36 PM ET
  1. 1

    ATSB confirms landing details; says it is not investigating

    The Australian Transport Safety Bureau confirmed the plane landed on Lake Eyre last week and sustained minor damage, but stated it is not investigating the incident. The Civil Aviation Safety Authority acknowledged awareness of the incident but declined to comment due to privacy obligations.

    “Some people believe, because his four-and-a-half tonne car could do about 650km/h, their little 1-tonne plane can land on it no worries. But after a bit of rain… it would have left a bit of a bog underneath…”
    — Tekin Benli
    1. 2 outlets ATSB confirms plane landed on Lake Eyre after pilot became unwell - ABC News & Headlines

      first by Australian Broadcasting Corporation, 13d ago · also ABC Australia

      1 more headline
  2. background

    Plane airlifted out of lake — The Sling 4 aircraft was removed from Kati Thanda-Lake Eyre a few days after the incident via helicopter.

  3. background

    Australian Maritime Safety Authority coordinates rescue via Santos helicopter — The Australian Maritime Safety Authority was alerted by local flight operator Wrightsair and tasked Santos's Moomba-based helicopter to assist in the rescue. Both occupants were rescued with no injuries reported.

  4. background

    Pilot becomes unwell; plane makes emergency landing on Lake Eyre — A Sling 4 light plane landed on Kati Thanda-Lake Eyre after the pilot became unwell. The propeller struck the ground during landing, sustaining minor damage. Two people were on board.