A pilot has died after a light plane crashed into crocodile-infested waters in the Northern Territory.
The light plane crashed with two passengers on board at Fogg Dam – a wetland 67km southwest of Darwin – at about 10.20am on Sunday.
‘The Search and Rescue section coordinated a response and a CareFlight Helicopter was dispatched to the area,’ police said.
A 29-year-old female passenger was winched from the scene by helicopter and transported to Royal Darwin Hospital for assessment. She was not injured.
A 63-year-old man was found dead inside the aircraft.
Police established a crime scene and launched an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the crash.
The NT News reported witnesses spotted the plane flying at a low altitude at about 9am before allegedly crashing 50m from the dam wall.
Fogg Dam was built on the traditional lands of the Limilngan-Wulna people in the 1950s to provide irrigation for the Humpty Doo Rice Project.
However, the agricultural scheme failed, with the dam then becoming a refuge for wildlife, according to the NT Government’s website.
The area is a haven for saltwater crocodiles and other wildlife including pythons, birds and freshwater turtles.
This article by Antoinette Milienos was first published by The Daily Mail on 12 January 2025. Lead Image:
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