Tragic Mid-Air Collision Claims Life of Acrobatic Pilot
A pilot has died following a mid-air collision during a formation flying exercise in Sydney's southwest on Sunday. Emergency services rushed to the Napperfield Airfield in Wedderburn after reports a light plane had crashed into nearby bushland around 12.15pm.
The body of the pilot and sole occupant, identified as Eddie Seve, was discovered soon after. Seve was one of four pilots participating in an acrobatic formation display exercise when it is understood his aircraft collided with a teammate's plane before crashing.
Investigation Underway into Formation Flight Tragedy
The other pilot involved in the collision managed to land safely and was not injured. Both pilots were members of the Freedom Formation Display Team, recognised as the largest of its kind in the Southern Hemisphere.
The team confirmed there "has been an accident involving some of our aircraft" and stated they are "working to fully support the relevant authorities as they take the lead in coordinating the emergency response." They are also providing support to team members and their families.
While recreational, Eddie Seve was a passionate and well-respected acrobatic pilot whose social media accounts showed him travelling across Australia in light aircraft. In a 2023 profile with the team, he expressed his love for aviation, saying: "We're just a bunch of ordinary guys from all walks of life, with the drive and the determination. To be able to emulate well-known people like that, for me ... well, it's the reason I'm mad for aviation. I'm living my dream now."
Safety Bureau Leads Crash Investigation
New South Wales Police have secured two crime scenes as investigations into the fatal crash will be led by the Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB). Police urged members of the public to avoid the area.
The ATSB revealed the two aircraft were part of a group of four involved in an acrobatic formation flight and were returning to land at the airfield when the collision occurred.
Investigators will examine the wreckage, undertake site mapping and recover relevant components for examination at the bureau's facilities in Canberra. They will also interview the other pilots involved in the formation flight, as well as other witnesses and involved parties.
The investigation will collect relevant recorded information including:
- Air traffic control and flight tracking data
- Pilot and aircraft maintenance records
- Weather information
The ATSB has urged anyone who witnessed the incident or has footage to contact the bureau.
