Pilot critical after plane crashes during aerial display at Avalon Airshow

March 28, 2025 journo

A pilot is in a critical condition after his plane crashed into the ground while performing an aerial demonstration at the Avalon Australian International Airshow south-west of Melbourne.

Footage from the event late on Friday afternoon shows the plane loop around and around and dive towards the tarmac. Shocked spectators jump to their feet as it hits the ground amid plumes of dust and smoke.

Images show the crumpled orange plane from the Paul Bennet Aerobatics team surrounded by fire rescue vehicles and ambulances while patrons watched on from behind barricades.

Ambulance Victoria said an air ambulance was dispatched to the patient, who sustained upper and lower body injuries. He was transport to The Alfred hospital in Melbourne and was in a critical condition.

Student pilot Taj Cooper was sitting at the front of the crowds watching the airshow and said he and his friends could not believe the pilot was alive after witnessing the crash.

“We’ve watched and seen quite a lot of aviation incidents … and we talked to each other that I hope he does survive, but that was a really hard crash landing,” he said.

The 20-year-old said the crowd erupted into applause when it was announced over loudspeaker the pilot had survived.

“We were all really grateful … really relieved,” he said.

Cooper said the pilot was performing solo barrel rolls away from other aircraft when he looped around towards the ground.

“He was a lot lower than he was supposed to be, and as he was about to pull up … unfortunately, he hit the ground, and he hit it pretty hard,” he said.

Cooper said the crowd went silent after the crash and some people walked closer to the front trying to make sense of what had happened.

“Everybody was covering their mouths, just at disbelief what happened.”

Cooper, who has his recreational pilot’s licence and is in training for his private one, said he keenly looked forward to airshows but seeing the accident made him feel more cautious about his own flying.

Victoria Police said the pilot was the only person in the plane and no other injuries had been reported.

Emergency crews respond after THE crash at Avalon Airshow on Friday.Credit: AAP

“Emergency services were called to reports the plane, which was conducting a demonstration during an airshow, had lost control and crashed into the tarmac about 5.15pm,” police said.

“The pilot and sole occupant of the aircraft sustained serious injuries.

“The incident occurred a significant distance away from spectators and there have been no reports of further injuries.

“The exact circumstance surrounding the crash are yet to be determined.”

The six-day airshow event is scheduled to run at the airport, north of Geelong, until March 30.