Plane crash on Lizard Island: child among nine passengers on board aircraft
A light aircraft carrying nine adult passengers and a 14-year-old girl has crashed on an island in the Great Barrier Reef.
The plane is believed to have overshot the only runway on Lizard Island, about 150 miles north of Cairns, as it took off before hitting trees and overturning about 7.20am on Monday.
Only two of the nine passengers suffered minor injuries during the crash and were miraculously able to walk away from the wreckage.
One adult suffered minor head injuries, while another adult suffered minor arm injuries.
Two rescue helicopters and the Royal Flying Doctors Service (RFDS) rushed to the remote island to assess the situation and provide assistance to those involved.
A light aircraft (pictured) carrying nine adult passengers and a 14-year-old girl overshot a runway before crashing into trees and overturning on Lizard Island, in the Great Barrier Reef
Emergency services rushed to the remote island (pictured) and found only two of the adult passengers had suffered minor injuries, while the others walked away unscathed
Acting Deputy Commissioner for the QAS, Brina Keating, said the lack of serious injuries was surprising.
“All walked and were able to get out of the plane,” the ABC said.
“It’s incredible to walk away from something like that.”
An investigation has been launched into how the crash occurred, but this has already been hampered due to the island’s inaccessibility.
Lizard Island is a luxury holiday destination for the rich and famous as it is home to an exclusive and secluded resort and numerous holiday homes.
Those who reach the island, about 17 miles off the mainland coast, can take a one-hour ‘scenic’ flight from Cairns.
The resort’s website states that the flight from the island departs daily at 12.25pm and 3.25pm, but ‘private charters can also be arranged’.