A small aircraft experiences power loss, scrapes past suburban rooftops, and eventually crashes onto its belly.
On Sunday, a Cessna plane experienced engine trouble, causing the pilot to urgently radio for help and glide the aircraft back toward Bankstown Airport in Sydney's southwest, reporting the incident to Nine News.
Videos shared by Nine News showed the plane almost colliding with trees and structures as it approached the airport.
Pilot Jake Swanepoel explained to Nine News, "We were gliding; there was no power. We clipped the trees, and we just made it over the hangar."
Swanepoel skillfully landed the aircraft on the taxiway, where it crashed onto its belly, stopping suddenly.
The pilot revealed to Nine News that he retracted the landing gear since the plane was so low, fearing it could hit houses' roofs while making its terrifying descent.
Quickly, ground workers rushed to help Swanepoel and his partner Karin, who both escaped unharmed. Her reaction? "We didn't think we were going to make this landing strip here."
The Australian Transport Safety Bureau plans to collect more details about the landing before determining whether an investigation is necessary. This could involve acquiring a report from Swanepoel, who's flown for 29 years, according to Nine News.
Reflecting on their harrowing experience, Karin remarked, "It was scary and nerve-wracking because you're thinking about all these homes… if you don't make the runway."
When asked how they'd celebrate surviving the ordeal, Swanepoel humored, "Nothing, just be alive."
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Despite the harrowing experience, both Swanepoel and his passenger Karin are grateful to have landed safely. Their plane's close call with suburban roofs in Sydney made headlines worldwide, highlighting the resilience and skill of Australian aviators.
Source: edition.cnn.com
