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An Airnorth Embraer EMB-120 Brasilia crashed shortly after taking off from Darwin Airport on March 22, killing the two pilots.
The aircraft, VH-ANB MSN 116, took off on a training flight shortly after 10am, before it was seen crashing into bush near RAAF Darwin. Pilots Shane Whitbread and Greg Seymon were they only occupants of the flight.
“At around 10.20 this morning an Airnorth twin engine turboprop aircraft on a routine training flight encountered difficulties on takeoff and crash landed at Darwin airport,” Airnorth CEO Michael Bridge confirmed in a statement. “Tragically, the two pilots – the only occupants of the plane – have perished in the accident.”
The ATSB has launched an investigation into the crash, confirming on March 24 it had retrieved the aircraft’s flight data and cockpit voice recorders.
“Embraer will provide full technical assistance to the investigative authorities, led by the Australian Transport Safety Board,” manufacturer Embraer said in a statement. “For this purpose, a team of specialists is being dispatched to Darwin, Australia.”
“This is a heartbreaking time for their families, friends, colleagues and all of us at Airnorth,” said Bridge. “The Airnorth family has never had to face a tragedy like this before.”
Airnorth’s regular airline services continued to operate as normal.
