Plane hits Ferris wheel in Australia, trapping four

An ultra-light plane hit a Ferris wheel in Australia trapping four in wreckage. The plane crashed into a Ferris wheel at a rural festival in eastern Australia on Saturday, trapping four people in the tangled wreckage for hours. There were no serious injuries.



The Cheetah S200 carrying two men did not topple the Ferris wheel when it hit the frame near the top on the first morning of an annual three-day festival at Old Bar, a coastal village 220 miles (350 kilometres) north of Sydney, New South Wales Rural Fire Service spokesman Ben Shepherd said.

Two children - a 9-year-old boy and a 13-year-old girl - where trapped in a carriage at the top of the wheel near the wrecked plane for 90 minutes. The 53-year-old pilot, Paul Cox, and his 32-year-old passenger were trapped inside the mangled aircraft more than 30 feet (10 metres) above the ground for almost three hours, police said.


YouTube link.

"Thankfully, everyone was taken down and were able to walk away from it," Shepherd said. Witnesses said the Ferris wheel was full of children minutes before the crash. But because of impending rain, only five had dared to take the final ride, said a festival organizer, who gave his name only as Terry. The plane had just taken off from a nearby air airstrip when it crashed.

There's a short interview with the pilot and his passenger here.