Emergency crews train for airport disaster one year after triple death
Emergency crews trained at Shellharbour airport. A crash one year earlier had killed pilot Andrew Connors, Julieanne and Colin McLaughlin.
Emergency services held a mock disaster at Shellharbour airport this week. They trained for an explosion as people left a plane.
The scenario matched a real tragedy. In October 2025, a Piper Cherokee Lance crashed shortly after take-off to Bathurst.
It was carrying pilot Andrew Connors, his wife Julieanne and friend Colin McLaughlin. All three died.
The Rural Fire Service, Fire and Rescue and health services all took part. Illawarra District Officer David Hitchens said the crews had been first responders to the real crash.
He said they were training on the day it happened. These drills test how agencies manage scenes, treat casualties and work together.
The training shows gaps and helps emergency services get ready for events that could happen at any airport.
- October 2025
- When crash occurred
- Piper Cherokee Lance
- Aircraft type
- Shellharbour airport
- Training location
Why it mattersRegular emergency drills stop confusion and save lives when a real disaster happens at an airport.
AustraliaStrengthens Illawarra emergency response capacity; regional residents depend on trained crews for aviation emergencies.
