Fireliner crash Down Under

On 6 February 2023, two pilots who managed to free themselves after a Coulson Aviation Boeing 737 Fireliner (N619SW, 28035) crashed while fighting a fire along Western Australia’s southern coast, have miraculously walked into a hospital.

The 737 National Large Air Tanker (using callsign Bomber 139) crashed in the Fitzgerald River National Park (WA), about 16:15 hours local time, just after dropping a load of fire retardant on the blaze. It had taken off from the Busselton-Margaret River Regional Airport (WA), where it is stationed, at 15:30 before crashing at the fire ground.

A bushfire watch is currently in place as firefighters battle a blaze which has already burnt more than 900 hectares in the national park, which is about a six-hour drive from Perth in the state’s Great Southern region.

Flying a water bomber is not without risks: “The logistics of flying a large aircraft close to the ground in those kinds of conditions is extremely challenging,” a spokesperson said. “You’re flying at a fairly slow speed, you can’t fly too fast otherwise the fire retardant will disappear out the back, and you get severe temperature updrafts and downdrafts and wind shear.” He said if the Boeing had stalled midair it may not have had the height or speed needed to recover.

Department of Fire and Emergency Services spokesman said the plane’s two occupants managed to free themselves after the unplanned landing and were airlifted to Ravensthorpe Airport by a nearby firefighting helicopter. The two crew members were taken the local medical centre for treatment to minor injuries and then flown by the Royal Flying Doctor Service to Royal Perth Hospital.

Photo: B3A (Coulson) and Scramble Archive (still in Southwest colours, before conversion)