Lismore Airport reopened for business on Saturday after two pilots had a close shave when their light plane overshot the runway in high winds on Friday afternoon.
The incident happened about 1pm (Friday, September 25), when the Citation Bravo 7 passenger jet skidded off the end of the runway, and travelled a further 250m through the grass and mud.
Police from Richmond Local Area Command were told the two pilots had been forced to abort their takeoff due to a technical problem.
Police, Paramedics and Fire & Rescue NSW fire-fighters attended the scene and found the pilots – aged 50 and 27, both from Victoria – were shaken but otherwise uninjured. The aircraft sustained significant damage to the nose wheel, nose cone and body.
The Civil Aviation Safety Authority (CASA) has been briefed on the incident and inquiries are underway.
The damaged aircraft has been recovered from the scene and Lismore Airport re-opened to air traffic.
Original report: A light plane, which failed to correctly take off in high winds, has overshot the runway at Lismore airport.
The plane came to a halt in a paddock of long grass some 40 metres beyond the end of the runway.
Ambulance paramedics were called to the scene about 1pm but a spokesperson said the pilot and passenger were uninjured.
Echonetdaily understands Rex services to Lismore have been diverted to Ballina while a rescue operation continues on the plane, which is registered to a rural property in the Clarence Valley.
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