Doco – PEL AIR Ditching

Also click here to watch the ABC Four Corners Investigation

ABC – Pel Air Ditching

Australia’s Most Controversial Aviation Accident

On the 18th November 2009, a Pel-Air jet on a CareFlight mission took off from Apia airport in Samoa. Its destination was Norfolk Island, and then on to Melbourne. There were six people on board, including a patient with a serious medical condition. As they prepared to leave Samoa, the pilot was told the weather ahead was fine and planned his trip accordingly. But the aircraft never made it to its destination. Instead, caught in a brutal storm, the pilot ditched the plane at sea, in shark-infested waters. Miraculously, all six people on board survived.

Back on land, the Pel-Air Chairman told the media that the pilot – Dominic James – was a hero. A month later, the Civil Aviation Authority (CASA) took away James’ pilot licence and his reputation was all but destroyed. Now Four Corners talks to the people on board and those involved in the flight, investigating what really happened that fateful night and in the hours leading up to the crash. Who really was at fault, and could the crash have been avoided?

“Crash Landing”, reported by Geoff Thompson and presented by Kerry O’Brien, goes to air on Monday 3rd September at 8.30pm on ABC1. It is replayed on Tuesday 4th September at 11.35pm. It can also be seen on ABC News 24 on Saturday at 8.00pm, on ABC iview or at abc.net.au/4corners.