The third man killed in a mid-air light plane crash in Sydney’s southwest has been identified, and is being remembered by loved ones as a “loving, caring and remarkable husband”.
Jake Anastas, 29, was one of three people killed when a white Jabiru aircraft collided with a yellow Cessna 182 over Belimbla Park near Oakdale shortly after it had taken off from nearby Oaks Airfield on Saturday morning.
WATCH THE VIDEO ABOVE: Witnesses share details of horror plane crash that killed three men in NSW.
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The Cessna 182 was on its way to Wollongong from Cessnock with two people on board and burst into flames on impact with the ground while the Jabiru was found 1km north of the initial wreckage.
Anastas was one of three men killed in the crash.
Veteran Qantas pilot Gary Criddle also died in the crash, along with Khadervali Gagguturu, 60.
Since the tragedy, friends have been remembering Anastas who had recently married partner Tori.
“At just 29 years old, Jake had spent nearly half his life in the skies, falling in love with flying in his youth, with this past weekend’s flight being the final step to achieving his commercial pilot’s licence,” Tori Anastas’ friend Alexandra Jurmann wrote on a Go Fund Me page.
“Jake’s family and friends will remember him as a loving, caring and remarkable husband and someone who had a tremendous impact on everyone in his life.”
‘Confronting’ Scene
Australian Transport Safety Bureau Chief Commissioner Angus Mitchell said it was too early to tell what caused the crash.
“It will take my team a number of days to try and sort through what’s on the ground,” he said on Sunday.
“One of the planes has been impacted quite heavily by a fire after the collision as well, so that makes it challenging.”
The mid-air collision was believed to have occurred in uncontrolled airspace.
“There is a landing field here, and there are some very strict and well-established protocols for planes to establish separation, but essentially, they’re doing that separation themselves,” Mitchell said.
NSW Ambulance Inspector Joseph Ibrahim said 10 ambulance resources including a helicopter were deployed to the “confronting” scene but nothing could be done.
“The nature of the injuries were unsurvivable,” he said.
The sites, covered by bushland, are near two flying schools — Sydney Recreational Flying Club and Dave’s Flying School.
– With AAP
