LATEST UPDATE ON MISSING PILOT, HADLEIGH SMITH

Friday, 23 January 2009

News Update: Arnhem Land Accident

Many may be wondering about the current situation regarding the missing plane.  The wreckage has still not been located.  The next possible option is a detailed salvage operation; however, due to the unavailability of experts in this field and other key personnel over the Christmas/New Year break, there has been little progress.  There are a number of options to consider and hopefully a way forward will be made clear soon.

Please continue to pray for the missing pilot's family, and also for wisdom that correct decisions will be made in order to establish the reasons for this tragedy.

Thursday, 16 October 2008

MAF Pilot Missing

A Mission Aviation Fellowship pilot flying a GA8 aircraft from Elcho Island, Arnhem Land, Australia has failed to return as expected at 2.30pm this afternoon.

Australia Search and Rescue are coordinating a search of the area involving MAF and other aircraft.

Please pray about this situation.

Bill Harding
Director/VP MAF Asia Pacific

Friday, 17 October 2008

The Search Continues

The search for a MAF pilot, who failed to return to Elcho Island, Arnhem Land, yesterday afternoon following a cargo-only charter flight, has escalated today.

Australia Search and Rescue are coordinating the effort which involves 7 MAF aeroplanes, 2 AusSAR aeroplanes, 2 civilian helicopters and 2 military helicopters. MAF operations in Arnhem Land have been suspended to focus on the search.

Please continue to pray that the pilot is found and uphold his family and the MAF team.

Saturday, 18 October 2008

Debris Found

The news regarding our pilot, Hadleigh Smith, missing from a cargo flight in Arnhem Land yesterday, is not good. Some cargo and an aircraft wheel have been recovered from the shoreline of Buckingham Bay not far from Elcho Island, indicating the aircraft has ditched off the coast. Helicopters and boats are now searching that area.

Neither the aircraft itself nor Hadleigh have been located to date. The search will continue today with helicopters and boats scouring the area. Local community members have also been assisting with the search and we are particularly grateful for their efforts. We remain hopeful that Hadleigh, 23 years of age from Sydney, has extracted himself from the aircraft as is awaiting rescue. The area is remote, isolated and has rugged coastlines. Big tides and strong currents are prevalent in the search area.

On Thursday Hadleigh was flying a Marthakal Yolngu Airline GA8 aircraft carrying cargo for a number of Aboriginal community outstations. He failed to return at the designated time and we have ascertained he never arrived at his first destination. Nothing has been seen nor heard since except for the located debris.

A GA8 Airvan

Australian Transport Safety Bureau investigators have arrived at Elcho Island. Today they will begin their investigation into what has occurred including examining the debris found to date.

Please continue to pray that Hadleigh will be found safe, for the search team, for his family and the MAF family. These tragic circumstances impact us all, some more than others. The uncertainty and grief will be intense for Hadleigh's family. The immediate MAF family in Arnhem Land and the broader MAF community will also struggle with the trauma of this tragic event.

Sunday, 19 October 2008

A Call To Prayer

AUSAR (Australian Search and Rescue) have passed jurisdiction for the search for Hadleigh to the Northern Territory Police. Whilst still involved in planning AUSAR's physical presence has lessened. However, the search is on-going. Aircraft searched all day yesterday. Many local aboriginal community members are out on the water in their own boats looking and some have walked many kilometres of mangrove shoreline in search of Hadleigh. Nothing was sighted yesterday.

The main objective we all have is to find Hadleigh.

The local MAF community gathered together last night in order to give mutual support and to deal with the reality of what has happened.

Today we are asking for people to pray, wherever they are and as they gather for worship, that God's specific presence in all of this will be revealed.

• Above all else praise God for His sovereignty in all things.
• Pray for Hadleigh's safety.
• Pray for the immediate family: that their faith will be strengthened, that God's arms will surround them with His love and even though there are questions of why and how pray that God's peace and abundant grace are sufficient for their needs.
• Pray that the NT Police and Coroner will have adequate resources available and will use all resources needed to continue searching.
• Pray for calm weather in the area. Yesterday a strong wind blew up which resulted in choppy water. Please pray for calmness and smoother conditions today.
• Pray that God will specifically intervene and that His finger will pinpoint the area to search.

Tuesday, 21 October 2008

There has been little change in the situation since the last report. The search has been on-going but nothing further found. Realistically, the further out from the incident the more the realisation comes that there is little chance of finding Hadleigh alive.

No May Day call was received and we don't know if he experienced the rapid onset of a medical condition or if there was some catastrophic event with the aircraft. Inspection of the debris located on Friday indicates that the aircraft struck the water with some considerable force. Currents and tides may well be carrying the aircraft some distance from initial point of contact. Murky water is reducing visibility. The aircraft could be lying in one of the deeper channels of Buckingham Bay.

The search emphasis is changing to more of a surface vessel focus. Hadleigh's family are realising more each day that there is little chance of him returning to them. Please pray for them as the impact of this comes more sharply in focus.

Friday, 24 October

Hadleigh Remembered

The authorities have changed the search emphasis. Whilst the use of aircraft has diminished, ships with specialised equipment are being deployed in Buckingham Bay to search for the aircraft wreckage. We are hopeful that images of the aircraft fuselage will give information as to its precise location. Please pray that this is the case and it will be recovered. It is probable that Hadleigh's body is still in the wreckage. The family believe that their beloved son is in the presence of their Lord and, as such, have organised a Thanksgiving service at their church on Monday, 27 October. Please pray that this is a wonderful celebration of a life given in service for his Lord and also that all who attend will be challenged to put their trust in God.

Thursday, 06 November 2008

Efforts underway to recover aircraft fuselage

Efforts are underway today (Thursday November 6) to confirm the identity of an aircraft fuselage discovered in Arnhem Land's Buckingham Bay.

Searchers suspect the wreckage could be that of a Mission Aviation Fellowship GA8 Airvan, piloted by 23-year-old Hadleigh Smith, who went missing on October 16.

A police vessel and two other support vessels arrived in Buckingham Bay yesterday afternoon. On board are police divers and ATSB investigators (and a sniper in case of crocodiles). They expect to dive on the site, to confirm whether the wreckage located by the sonar on Saturday is the missing aircraft.

Recovery is expected to commence as soon as possible following identification. Divers will assess the best method for recovery (inflatable flotation balloons have been carried). The dive site is about 15km from Elcho Island, 2km from the shore of Buckingham Bay where the water is about 15m deep.

A memorial service celebrating Hadleigh's life, his commitment to God, to flying, to people and to MAF was held in Sydney at Gymea People's Church on Monday 27 October. Two days later another memorial service was held, this time on Elcho Island where Hadleigh was based. Hadleigh's parents Stewart and May, sisters Cherryn (with husband Daniel) and Kylie, and Hadleigh's girlfriend Jess flew up from Sydney to attend.

Also present were many of the MAF staff, Marthakal staff and Yolngu community leaders. There were many tributes to Hadleigh and to the commitment, dedication and witness of the MAF families serving in Arnhem Land.

Friday, 14 November 2008

News Update: Arnhem Land Search

MAF pilot Hadleigh Smith, with GA8 VH-WRT, went missing on 16 October and is believed to have crashed into the sea enroute from Elcho Island to Matamata in Arnhem Land.

During the last week a police vessel and divers have not been able to relocate the wreckage which was earlier thought to have been located in Buckingham Bay. The police vessel has now returned to Darwin, however MAF and the Marthakal community (in which Hadleigh was based) are planning to continue searching using external salvage expertise and equipment. The plan is for salvage experts to make a final comprehensive search of the sea bed in all the areas where the wreckage may be. We remain anxious to locate Hadleigh and VH-WRT, both for closure of this painful period and to help us understand the cause of the tragedy.

Please continue to pray that we find Hadleigh, pray for the Smith family, the Marthakal community and affected MAF staff.