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One of Australian aviation’s most decorated pilots was among three men killed in a mid-air collision between a Cessna and Jabiru on Saturday.
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Current Qantas captain Gary Criddle, 72, had an extraordinary career that saw him fly 747s and A380s for the Flying Kangaroo, but also fly for the RAAF and RAN, as well as being part of the Roulettes display team.
He appeared on the Australian Aviation podcast in 2020 to talk through his career, revealing that aviation had always been a “fascination” to him. You can listen to the episode below.
The incident saw a Cessna 182 collide with a Jabiru over south-west Sydney, with the wreckage of the two planes found a kilometre apart in bushland near Belimbla Park in the Macarthur region.
The Cessna, which was en route to Wollongong from Cessnock, was carrying Mr Criddle and another 29-year-old man, while the Jabiru, which had taken off from The Oaks Airfield, was piloted by Khadervali Gagguturu, 60.
Mr Criddle’s family said in a statement they were “devastated beyond words” by his death.
“Gary, affectionately known as Gaz, was a very much-loved husband, father, grandfather and aviator,” they said.
“He was a mentor to many aspiring pilots and an avid adventurer with plans to sail the world. Gaz was full of fun, laughter and generosity. His loss is immeasurable, and he will be deeply missed.”
Qantas chief pilot Richard Tobiano hailed Mr Criddle as a “highly respected and loved member of the Qantas flying community”.
“We were deeply upset to learn that an off-duty Qantas pilot was involved in the fatal light aircraft accident over Belimbla Park on Saturday,” he said.
“This is a very upsetting time for Captain Criddle’s family, friends and colleagues, and we will be providing them with as much support as we can.”
Mr Criddle’s career saw him initially work as a seaman before becoming a pilot for the RAN, where he flew the Grumman Tracker anti-submarine aircraft.
In 1987, he transferred to the RAAF to become an instructor while also flying for the RAAF Roulettes aerobatic team.
Finally, in 1989, he joined Qantas, and his 36-year career saw him fly 737s, 767s, A380s and the 747.
The Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) revealed the pilots were flying in non-controlled airspace, and the government body would begin an immediate investigation, with a preliminary report likely to be released in two months.
“Over coming days, investigators will undertake site mapping, examine the wreckage of both aircraft, and recover any relevant components for further examination at the ATSB’s technical facilities in Canberra,” it said.
“Investigators will also seek to interview any witnesses and involved parties and collect relevant recorded information including any air traffic control and flight tracking data, as well as pilot and aircraft maintenance records, and weather information.
“The ATSB asks anyone who may have witnessed and has footage of the accident, or who has footage of either aircraft in any phase of their flights, to contact us via the witness form on our website at their earliest convenience.”
