Brisbane, June 21 -- A fatal fire surveillance aircraft crash near Cloncurry, Queensland in 2023 was caused by pilot hypoxia brought on by a persistent pressurisation system defect, a government investigation report has revealed.
The Gulfstream 695A, operated by aircraft rental service AGAIR was on a mission to map fire zones near Mount Isa on Nov. 4, 2023, when it crashed, killing the pilot and two camera operators, and one passenger on board, according to the Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB).
The ATSB found the aircraft's pressurisation system had been unreliable for months, yet AGAIR management failed to formally address the issue.
As a result, pilots resorted to unsafe, improvised measures such as brief descents and...