The family of a pilot who tragically lost his life in a plane crash in Adelaide has expressed their sorrow and honored their beloved son. Robert Hoyle, a flight instructor, was among the two individuals who perished in the incident at Parafield Airport. The crash occurred when the Diamond DA42light plane, carrying Robert and a 24-year-old student pilot, collided with the airport hangar around 2:11pm.

Robert’s parents revealed that their son had aspired to become a pilot from a young age and was affectionately known as ‘Goose’ by his students, a reference to the character in Top Gun. Describing Robert as a commercial pilot for over ten years, his parents highlighted his respect and admiration within the aviation community.

The grieving family also mentioned that Robert had recently found love in his life. Robert was employed at Flight Training Adelaide, where the tragic incident unfolded, resulting in 10 additional injuries apart from the fatalities. The intense impact led to a massive fire, with thick black smoke billowing into the sky.

Emergency responders, including 50 firefighters, promptly arrived at the scene to contain the blaze. Over 100 individuals, including students and staff, were evacuated from the airport premises. Chief commissioner of the Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB), Angus Mitchell, described the crash as “horrific” and noted the extensive damage caused by the post-impact fire.

Mitchell detailed that the flight lasted less than 30 seconds before the plane sharply veered left, ultimately crashing into the hangar in a tragic turn of events during what was supposed to be a routine training flight. The investigative team is set to meticulously examine the wreckage to determine the cause of the fatal crash and the subsequent fire damage.