Pilatus Aircraft sent out the final Pilatus Porter PC-6 for delivery on Monday, but the plane did not make it. The final PC-6 crashed into the sea near Crete, injuring one and killing another.
The plane departed from Buochs Airport on its way to Smart Cakrawala Aviation in Indonesia. According to the Bureau of Aircraft Accidents Archives the crew made a stop in Maribor and Podgorica and continued from there to Heraklion. Thursday morning, the plane took off from the Heraklion-Nikos Kazantzakis Airport runway 09 and climbed to an altitude of 1,400 feet.
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Pilatus Aircraft sends out the final Porter PC-6 for delivery
The pilot noticed problems and declared an emergency. He attempted a right turn to return to the airport when the plane lost height and speed, stalling and then crashing into the sea.
The final PC-6 crashed after the pilot made a Mayday call, reporting mechanical failure on the plane. A survivor was rescued and the other on board the plane died later. A video showed the victims being pulled onto a boat and then showed the PC-6 sinking beneath the water.
According to the Hellenic Coast Guard, the Port Authority of Heraklion was informed about the crash on the morning of Dec. 15. A 26-year-old and a 68-year-old were on board. Both were reported to be pilots but it is not confirmed who was flying.
The Hellenic Coast Guard said that the 68-year-old was found unconscious and CPR was attempted before the individual was transported to the hospital where they were pronounced dead.
After nearly 600 deliveries in 60 years, the final PC-6 will not make it to the final destination. After ending production of the iconic aircraft in 2019, the final PC-6 had been sent out just this week, before the tragic ending under the sea.
Pilatus had not commented on the crash on any social platform as of Thursday afternoon.
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