karl
October 24th, 2013, 03:55 AM
A plane fighting bushfires in the Australian state of New South Wales has crashed, killing its pilot, as the military faced criticism for starting one of the major fires.
The water-bombing plane crashed near Ulladulla, south of Sydney.
Meanwhile the military said it was co-operating with a fire services probe that found an exercise using live ordnance started the State Mine fire.
NSW has been battling bushfires for days, amid high temperatures.
Officials have yet to release the identity of the pilot, who was the only person aboard the aircraft. His family has been informed of his death.
"It's a tragedy for the fire-fighting community," said NSW Rural Fire Services Commissioner Shane Fitzsimmons.
Full story here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-24649197
The water-bombing plane crashed near Ulladulla, south of Sydney.
Meanwhile the military said it was co-operating with a fire services probe that found an exercise using live ordnance started the State Mine fire.
NSW has been battling bushfires for days, amid high temperatures.
Officials have yet to release the identity of the pilot, who was the only person aboard the aircraft. His family has been informed of his death.
"It's a tragedy for the fire-fighting community," said NSW Rural Fire Services Commissioner Shane Fitzsimmons.
Full story here: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-24649197