Training plane crashes on golf course with loud bang

Firefighters inspect a crashed plane on a golf course after an emergency landing (Illustrative image) AFP PHOTO / JONATHAN ALCORN Getty Images

A Piper Cherokee aircraft made an emergency landing on Mona Vale Golf Course on Sydney's Northern Beaches on Sunday afternoon during a training flight. Two men aged in their 50s were on board and escaped with only minor injuries, with one suffering facial injuries and both being treated at the scene by paramedics.

Golfers on the course witnessed the dramatic incident as the aircraft flew extremely low overhead before crash landing on the green. The aircraft sustained visible damage to its wing and landing gear during the forced landing.

Witness Keanu Turnewich told ABC he was waiting for a friend to take a swing when he noticed a shadow overhead. "I thought, 'It's a big bird' and looked up and there was an airplane close enough I could have thrown a club up and hit it," he said.

Remarkable witness reactions

About 30 seconds after the low flyover, golfers heard "a big crunching sound" followed by emergency sirens for 20 to 30 minutes. Remarkably, some golfers continued playing their round despite the aircraft crashing nearby.

One witness described the surreal scene in a TikTok video, saying: "It was crazy, we literally just heard this noise, and then all of a sudden it went bang. And next thing you know, these guys are still playing their golf game, pretending like a plane just hasn't fallen from the sky."

Another witness at nearby Kitcher Park saw the plane approach from the south, head back down, then return north and dip its wings before the emergency landing. The witness, who identified as a lifesaver, initially feared mass casualties.

Flight details and investigation

Flight tracking data showed the aircraft had taken off from Shellharbour near Wollongong and made a stop in Camden before continuing north. Officials said the cause of the crash was unknown but suspected possible engine trouble.

Both occupants were taken to Royal North Shore Hospital for further assessment as a precaution. Aviation authorities are gathering information about the incident, though it remains unclear whether a formal investigation will be launched.

Sources used: "Mirror", "ABC", "TikTok" Note: This article has been edited with the help of Artificial Intelligence.