Jake Nelson

The pilot is believed to have lost control of the GlaStar light aircraft, registered VH-BAQ, when a sudden gust of wind hit as he came in to land on a grass airstrip at Cootharaba on Sunday.

The “wings night” on Thursday saw around 250 people turn out to congratulate more than 64 recipients of awards and qualifications including RPL, PPL, and CPL graduates. It was the first time the night had been held at Randwick, having moved from the QVB tearooms due to high demand.

The plane, registered VH-VPY, was en route to Pago Pago in American Samoa when it lost an engine and was forced to come down in the ocean about 35 nautical miles off the coast of Queensland. A nearby RFDS aircraft was able to provide accurate coordinates to emergency services.

The Australian and International Pilots Association (AIPA) has released data from a Redbridge poll of 1,022 adults showing that 89 per cent would feel less safe boarding a flight with only a single pilot at the controls. 65 per cent said they would feel “much less safe”, and 24 per cent “a little less safe”.

Economy and business class cabins will both receive new seating, with business class seats to double from 21 to 44. The airline will also install on-board wi-fi and a lie-flat crew rest area, freeing up to eight business and economy seats for passengers.

The minister told ABC Radio in Perth this week that CASA “can’t be everywhere” in response to questions from host Nadia Mitsopoulos over whether the crash, which took the life of 12-year-old Amber Jess Millar (pictured), could have been prevented had CASA been more proactive.