Arabic version: استمرار البحث عن الطيار بوب براملي بعد تحطم طائرة في الإقليم الشمالي

According to ABC News, Northern Territory police are continuing to search for Tasmanian pilot Bob Bramley after a small charter aircraft crashed in waters near Groote Eylandt in the Gulf of Carpentaria on Tuesday. Authorities believe the pilot died, but had not located a body.

Police began an investigation on Tuesday afternoon after the Air Frontier aircraft reportedly crashed in Angurugu waters. At about 11:40am, a witness on a boat reported that an aircraft had crashed into the water near Isle Woodah. Air Frontier said its Beechcraft Baron was involved in an accident near Numbulwar around midday.

The company said the plane was on a non-commercial repositioning flight from Gove to Numbulwar and that the pilot was believed to be the sole occupant. Mr Bramley circumnavigated Australia in a small plane as a 16-year-old in 2019 to raise awareness about youth suicide, and founded the youth mental health and suicide prevention initiative Surviving Turbulence.

Search crews located aircraft debris on Wednesday, helping refine search planning. Acting Sergeant Nathan Conelius said the remote location, about 50 kilometres north-west of Alyangula, and worse-than-expected sea and weather conditions had complicated the operation. Police divers were due to search the sea floor on Thursday, with Anindilyakwa sea rangers, Nautilus Aviation helicopters and crews on the ground in Alyangula assisting.

Mr Bramley’s family said they could not comprehend the loss, describing him as courageous and inspiring. Air Frontier said it was deeply saddened and had grounded all of its Beechcraft Baron aircraft as a precaution pending advice from relevant authorities. The cause of the accident will be investigated.