Year: 2026

Speaking to Sunrise, Angus Mitchell said the student pilot – identified in The Advertiser as 21-year-old Youngin Kim – was “very fortunate” to have escaped uninjured in the accident, which saw the Cessna 172M Skyhawk, understood to be registered VH-LGE, burst into flames, sparking a grass fire.

The company, which will replace Rotor-Lift for aerial EMS in the state starting 12 January, says that most of its advertised pilot, air crew officer, and aircraft maintenance engineer positions have been filled by Rotor-Lift employees.

Acting Flight Lieutenant Tom Carmody, who served in both world wars, was deemed eligible for both the Australian Service Medal 1939–1945 and War Medal 1939–1945 after it was confirmed that he had served in the RAAF and not the Air Training Corps (ATC) during World War II.

The plane, identified as a Cessna 172, sparked a grass fire in the accident at around 12:30pm on Monday 5 December, leading to dramatic photos and video on social media. The pilot escaped uninjured, according to officials.

Speaking to The Australian for its 2026 CEO Survey, Vanessa Hudson said the Flying Kangaroo has been “laying the foundations” for increased use of AI, and that Australia needs to move quickly on the “unprecedented” opportunities it represents.

Leaving the position is Air Commodore David Strong, who said he is “confident that under Air Commodore Brett Williams’ leadership, Air Force Training Group will continue to thrive”.