Victoria Police recover wreckage from Port Phillip Bay after plane crash in Mount Martha killed cameraman James Rose and pilot Stephen Gale
Victoria Police have recovered wreckage in waters near Mount Martha after a plane carrying a pilot and a camera operator crashed mid-air last weekend. Two ex-military jets operated by civilians collided over Port Phillip Bay about 1.45pm on Sunday,[1] before one plunged into the water while the other landed safely at nearby Essendon Airport. Pilot Stephen Gale, 56, and passenger MasterChef cameraman James Rose, 30, were on the downed jet and were missing until police located suspected human remains earlier in the week.
Police on Saturday lifted the main part of the aircraft from the water with a crane before transporting it on a barge to Port Melbourne as part of a recovery operation. The fuselage was around four metres wide and weighed around one tonne, according to police. Police say any human remains will be recovered from the wreckage before the plane is further examined by the Australian Transport Safety Bureau.
Investigators are working to establish the exact circumstances of the incident as investigations remain ongoing. Police are urging anyone who witnessed the incident on Sunday, or has footage, to contact Crime Stoppers on 1800 333 000.
Australian TV star and comedian Tommy Little paid tribute to his friend Stephen Gale[2] earlier in the week after his remains were discovered. “To put it bluntly Stephen Gale is the most intelligent man I’ve ever met in my life and our relationship was the perfect example of when opposites attract,” Little wrote on social media.
“Steve and I spoke almost every day and if I was ever flat he’d say ‘it sounds like we need to go flying’ and then half an hour later life’s problems would melt away as we looked down over our beautiful city. “But now the person that could make this problem melt away even just for a second is the one person that isn’t here to do it with me. I love ya Cap.
I’ll see you in the sky.” Mr Gale is survived by his wife Tori and newborn baby Tommy. Little promised to remind his godson of the “tour de force that was your dad”.
The pilot owned the two Viper S-211 Marchetti planes under his company Jetworks Aviation. He served in the Royal Australian Air Force before he switched to flying and performing in airshows and was recently employed by the Philippine Airforce to test the capability of both their planes and pilots. “His love for aviation was unparalleled…
He did it all,” Little said.
Mr Gale was piloting the jet for Mr Rose, who was in the cockpit filming footage for a new television show, ahead of the crash. The 30-year-old from Surrey Hills worked the cameras on a number of programs including MasterChef, The Block and House Rules. “To the family of James Rose, I can’t imagine the pain you’re going through and I’m sending you all the love and condolences,” Little said.
The camera operator’s father David Rose said he was “so proud” of his son.
“He is recognised as one of the best drone operators in Australia and worked on all the big name TV shows.
That’s why he was up there, in the plane today,” he told The Herald Sun.
References
- ^ collided over Port Phillip Bay about 1.45pm on Sunday, (www.skynews.com.au)
- ^ Tommy Little paid tribute to his friend Stephen Gale (www.skynews.com.au)