Tragedy after missing plane is found near Queensland: Couple killed in crash were about to have a baby – as chilling last Facebook posts emerge
- Couple found dead after plane crashed
- Pair were expecting a baby girl
A missing pilot shot a video of himself taking a light aircraft for a joyride days before he and his pregnant wife were killed in a plane crash.
Rhiley Kuhrt and his partner Maree set off from cattle station Natal Downs, south of Charters Towers in rural Queensland, on Sunday afternoon.
Their white and green Piper Cherokee failed to arrive at Lakeside Airpark, in Prosperine, later that day prompting a desperate search by authorities.
The two day search came to an end after teams discovered the wreckage of the missing plane in the Clarke Ranges on Monday.
New details have since emerged of the couple revealing Mr Kuhrt had an avid passion for flying and regularly posted photos and videos to Facebook.
Mrs Kuhrt was also expecting a baby girl in June and is understood to have been on the plane so she could attend a medical appointment at Prosperine Hospital.
A missing pilot made a video of himself taking a light aircraft for a joyride days before him and his pregnant wife were killed in a plane crash
New details have since emerged of the couple revealing Mr Kuhrt had an avid passion for flying and regularly posted photos and videos to Facebook
Mr Kuhrt’s last Facebook post was a video recording one of his many flights over rural south-west Queensland.
‘Wick afternoon run over the sorghum harvest and abit of fun,’ the post read.
In another video Mr Kuhrt is seen smiling and laughing at the camera while a handful of dogs sit four dogs sit in the back of the plane.
The camera then pans down to the mountainous regions stretching out below the aircraft.
The couple had been preparing for the arrival of their baby daughter after making the announcement to family and friends on Instagram in December.
They had celebrated a gender reveal party with loved ones in February.
Mrs Kuhrt shared a video showing the expectant mother and her partner sitting on a couple of horses.
Their family and friends stood nearby before popping the confetti canons to reveal it was a girl.
Her last post on Instagram was a selfie showcasing her baby bump.
’27 weeks now! Getting closer and closer to meeting baby girl,’ she wrote.
Mr Kuhrt is the son of a Mackay district police senior sergeant and head stockman and pilot at Nerrigundah station.
The desperate search for the missing couple was launched by the Australian Maritime Safety Authority’s Joint Rescue Coordination Centre on Sunday
The desperate search for the missing couple was launched by the Australian Maritime Safety Authority’s Joint Rescue Coordination Centre on Sunday.
Two helicopters and a fixed-wing aircraft failed to find any trace of the missing aircraft last night.
Bureau of Meteorology duty forecaster Ricus Lombard said search teams had to contend with poor and wet conditions.
‘It’s easing … (but the) potential with showers and storms. There is a fair bit of cloud as well,’ Mr Lombard said.
‘There’s a weak trough just to the north so there is some shower and storm in the area.’
An AMSA spokesman said the search had resumed the following day before the wreckage of the plane was found.
‘At 10.15am (AEST) this morning, a crash site was located in the Clarke Ranges west of Proserpine by QG Air Rescue helicopter based in Townsville,’ he said.
‘An aircraft located at the crash site is confirmed to be the light aircraft that was reported missing after leaving Natal Downs Station in Queensland yesterday afternoon.
‘Queensland Police are co-ordinating with next of kin.’
More to come
Two helicopters and a fixed-wing aircraft failed to find any trace of the missing aircraft last night
