SYDNEY, Nov 19 (NNN-AAP) – Two former military planes on a training flight, collided today, over the Mornington Peninsula, in south-east Australia, sending one plummeting into the water, local media reported.
One plane crashed into the ocean, about 12 km off the coast of Mount Martha, while the other plane made it back to base, after the disaster struck, about 1:45 p.m. local time (0245 GMT).
Search and rescue crews were scouring the waters off Mount Martha, located about 50 km south-east of Melbourne.
Australia’s maritime authorities confirmed two people were on board each of the Viper S-211 Marchetti light aircraft.
The Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) “understands there were two people on board each aircraft: one aircraft landed safely at Essendon airfield, while the other crashed into the water in Port Phillip,” it said.
Three AMSA rescue helicopters remained at the scene late into this afternoon, and a number of Victoria Water Police boats, coastguard and jet skis were seen in the waters.– NNN-AAP
