APRIL 10  2008
An 18-seater sized twin-engine Metroliner freighter operated by Airtex in Sydney impacted the water shortly after departing Sydney Airport around 2330hrs last night

 
The Metro was to deliver express mail to Brisbane for Australia Post - "The wreckage that's been located so far would indicate a high-speed impact into the water"

APRIL 9  2008
A 10-seat Cessna 402 aircraft under the command of a 46-year-old female charter pilot departing Laura Airport in FNQ en-route to Cairns with eight passengers on board was forced to make an emergency landing after smoke started filling the cockpit

Activating the undercarriage for the return landing the pilot found that only the left main wheel had extended - the front nose-wheel and the right main wheel were still in the up position

 
The C402 landed back on the dirt airstrip sustaining extensive damage to the right wing and undercarriage

The aircraft had been charted by various State Government Departments including the Cooktown Council and Cape York Land Council who were in Laura for the opening of the Laura Sports Centre - "The passengers were all evacuated to the local pub and were examined as a precaution by staff from the Laura Clinic"

APRIL 9  2008
An Aeropower operated McDonnell Douglas 500 two-seat helicopter subcontracted to string new powerlines at Stuart in Townsville suffered a loss of power during the operation injuring the 2 persons on board

 
Police said it was believed the helicopter lost power about 20 metres off the ground and landed heavily - the pilot was trapped for a short time and was cut free