The Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) confirmed the aircraft was a twin-engine Diamond DA42, a model capable of seating up to four passengers. Local police stated that the plane sharply descended shortly after takeoff before colliding with the hangar structure. The impact caused the aircraft to burst into flames, igniting a large fire within the facility. Emergency services reported that the crash damaged the hangar’s sprinkler systems, complicating firefighting efforts. More than 55 firefighters responded to the scene, and the blaze took approximately 30 minutes to extinguish.
Ten people, including airport ground staff, were transported to hospital with burns. South Australian Premier Peter Malinauskas stated on social media that the immediate area had been evacuated while emergency services dealt with the incident. He confirmed that the fire has been extinguished and the airfield remains closed, with emergency crews still on scene. Malinauskas said his thoughts were with the families of those who passed away.
Parafield Airport is a major hub for light aircraft operations and is home to several flight training schools. It is one of Australia’s busiest airports in terms of aircraft movement. This incident marks the second light plane crash at the airport this year. In January, a student pilot’s aircraft crashed and caught fire during takeoff, but the sole occupant escaped without injury.
Authorities have launched an investigation into the exact cause of the accident. The ATSB is leading the inquiry, and police are working to gather evidence from the crash site. The severity of the crash resulted in the deaths of both occupants, while the resulting fire caused significant injuries to personnel on the ground.
