An amphibious aircraft that resembled a flying boat crashed during takeoff at Lake Macquarie, which is located south of Newcastle. Just before 10:30 am, Fire and Rescue NSW reported that the aircraft overturned around 500 meters off Marmong Point when it was skimming the water in an effort to take off. Two passengers on the combined boat-helicopter were saved from the wreckage by other boats in the area. ‘Cartwheeled’ aircraft While grabbing coffee, David Prince noticed the plane preparing to take off and decided to go down to the water’s edge for a better view. “Whether he hit a little wave we’re not sure, but he just flipped straight over, cartwheeled head first,” he stated.
One of the guys was immediately rescued by a boat, and he was taken out; the other man remained with the helicopter. “They were both ok, but they’d obviously be pretty shaken.” According to Mr. Prince, that would have been a “horrific thing to go through”. “They’re ok which is the main thing,” he stated. “There was a big bang when it hit the water, you could definitely hear it.” Winching helicopter The inquiry into the cause of the collision has been taken up by NSW Police. Eight personnel were sent to the scene, according to Fire and Rescue NSW, and HAZMAT specialists moved the yacht to a marina and set up booms to contain any possible gasoline leaks.
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