Two lives were tragically cut short on November 19, 2023, when two vintage jet trainer aircraft, SIAI Marchetti S-211s, collided mid-air during an aerobatic filming flight over Port Phillip Bay, south of Melbourne. The Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) has released a preliminary report detailing the sequence of events and the ongoing investigation, aiming to shed light on this heartbreaking incident.
The ill-fated aircraft, SIAI Marchetti S-211s, were no strangers to the skies. Built in Italy in 1985, they served with distinction in the Republic of Singapore Air Force for over a decade, honing the skills of countless pilots before retiring in 2009. VH-DQJ and VH-DZJ, as they were later registered, embarked on a second life as civilian trainers, their once-military livery replaced by the vibrant colors of aerobatic teams. From 1996 to 2009, they called Royal Australian Air Force Base Pearce their home, further etching their names in Australian aviation history.
VH-DQJ, bearing the callsign Viper 1, had accumulated a respectable 6,363 hours in service. Its companion, VH-DZJ, known as Viper 2, had logged 5,595 hours, each flight carving a story into its fuselage.
On that fateful November day, Viper 1, carrying a pilot and safety pilot, flew in an inverted position as Viper 2, manned by a pilot and camera operator, executed a planned maneuver of passing beneath and to the left. This pre-briefed “Viper formation” was meant to capture breathtaking footage, but tragedy struck during the second attempt.
As Viper 2 climbed away, its right wing clipped the right wing of Viper 1. The impact inflicted catastrophic damage on Viper 2, its wing structure buckling and skin tearing away. Video footage captured this harrowing scene, revealing the jet’s near-vertical plunge into the bay. Sadly, witnesses confirmed the aircraft’s watery demise, while Viper 1, sustaining only minor damage, limped back to Essendon.
“A final report will be released at the conclusion of the investigation, but if we identify a critical safety issue during the course of the investigation, we will immediately notify relevant parties so appropriate and timely safety action can be taken,” ATSB Chief Commissioner Angus Mitchell was quoted as saying.
The ATSB investigation is now meticulously piecing together the events leading to the collision. Formation flying procedures, video and audio analysis, and a thorough review of both aircraft will be scrutinized. While the final report will offer definitive answers, the immediate focus remains on ensuring the safety of future pilots and preventing similar tragedies.
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