Search the news, stories & people Personalise the news and stay in the know Emergency Backstory Newsletters 中文新闻 BERITA BAHASA INDONESIA TOK PISIN Topic:Air Incidents Glenn Collins remains in a critical but stable condition after a crash at the Avalon International Airshow on Friday. The experienced pilot from stunt flight company, Paul Bennet Airshows, crashed during an aerobatic display a few hundred metres from spectators. The airshow closed early after the crash on Friday, but has resumed on Saturday. A pilot involved in a crash at the Avalon International Airshow in Victoria on Friday remains in a critical but stable condition in hospital. The pilot, Glenn Collins from Paul Bennet Airshows, based in Hunter in NSW, crashed the aircraft while performing in a four-plane stunt demonstration about 5:15pm on Friday. Mr Collins, aged in his 50s, was the sole occupant of the plane, known as a Pitts Special aerobatic aircraft. According to a biography on the Paul Bennet Airshows website, Mr Collins is an seasoned pilot with more than 2,700 hours flying experience. Pilot Glenn Collins suffered critical injuries in the crash at the Avalon International Airshow on Friday. (Supplied: Paul Bennet Airshows) Paul Bennet Airshows said Mr Collins was “one of our long-time Sky Aces pilots.” “The pilot is in a serious but stable condition and has been transferred to hospital for treatment,” Paul Bennet Airshows said in a statement. “Our team and families appreciate the well-wishes and support.” The plane that crashed was one of four aircraft involved in an aerobatic display at the airshow when the accident occurred. The crash happened at about 5:15pm on Friday at the Avalon airshow. (AFP: Paul Crock) On Saturday morning, the stunt flying company said it would not be performing at the remainder of the airshow but hoped the public would continue to enjoy the event. “The Bennett family and the Paul Bennett Airshows team are thinking of Glenn Collins, who remains in hospital, and his family at this time.” Shaun Lenehan was in the crowd at the airshow when the crash happened a few hundred metres in front of spectators. “Everyone stopped straight away and they rolled the fire trucks out and they kind of put a pause on everything straight away,” he said. “It looked like it could have been a fatal crash by the way it had hit the ground and disintegrated. He was pulling out of a dive so he was going quite fast.” The aircraft was one of four planes involved in an aerobatic display from Paul Bennet Airshows. (AAP Image: Michael Currie) Another spectator, Andrew Pearce, said the plane hit the ground as it was coming out of a loop. “The cockpit was intact where he was but the wings were, like I don’t know if they were detached from the plane, but they were like crumpled in front of the plane.” Glenn Collins pictured several years ago for Paul Bennett Airshows. (Supplied: Facebook/Paul Bennett Airshows) The chief commissioner of the Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB), Angus Mitchell, said investigators had almost finished examining the crash site and would now continue their investigation of the plane wreckage in a hangar. He said investigators would look into what pilots were tasked to do for the flight display, the approvals processes leading up to it, the plane’s maintenance history and the pilot’s history. A number of recording devices have been recovered from the plane as well as mobile phone footage from the public. ATSB chief commissioner Angus Mitchell says it’s too early to say what caused the plane crash. (ABC News) “That is all very important for us in recreating what’s occurred here,” Mr Mitchell told reporters on Saturday. “I suspect it will be a number of months before we have anything to say regarding what occurred yesterday and, most importantly, is there anything else that we can work with in the industry to make sure that occurrences like this are lessened.” He encouraged anyone else with footage of the crash to submit it to the ATSB. Glenn Collins, pictured with fellow members of the his stunt flying team, the Sky Aces. (Facebook/Paul Bennett Airshows) Avalon Australian International Airshow CEO Justin Giddings confirmed the pilot was the only person hurt in the incident. “The incident occurred well away from the crowds in attendance and no member of the public was injured,” he said. “The Avalon Australian International Airshow concluded the day’s activities to allow the Australian Transport Safety Bureau investigation team to have full and free access to the site. The airshow is resuming on Saturday after being suspended following Friday’s crash. (ABC News) The airshow is proceeding on Saturday, with gates opening at 8am, although the start of the flying display will be delayed. Mr Giddings said airshow attendees who were forced to leave early on Friday because of the crash would be offered general admission tickets for Sunday. 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This article was summarized and republished from the original source.
Please check the original article here: https://www.abc.net.au/news/2025-03-29/avalon-crash-pilot-saturday/105111876.