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Pilot’s body recovered from plane crash wreckage in NSW national park

The body of a pilot has been recovered from wreckage in a national park in southern NSW after a light plane crashed yesterday.

An experienced pilot in his 60s took off from Bankstown Airport about 11am yesterday and flew to Mallacoota in Victoria.

He was on his way back to Bankstown when the aircraft disappeared yesterday afternoon.

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This map shows the plane's flight path before it crashed north of Batemans Bay.

The aircraft was from Bankstown Flying School and had no other passengers on board. 

An aircraft emergency location transmitter was activated in Budawang National Park, about 25km north of Batemans Bay, about 4.30pm that same day.

The crash site was located, but emergency services were not able to access the area due to the rough terrain and foggy weather conditions.

Emergency crews are at the scene today trying to reach the wreckage and locate the pilot.

NSW Police Chief Inspector David Cockram said the pilot was thought to have died on impact.

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The light plane that crashed in NSW's South yesterday has been found in rough and remote terrain as the pilot remains missing. 

"The inquiries we've made with air traffic controllers and air safety last night, they're of the view it was unlikely the fellow would survive the impact," he told reporters.

Cockram said it was not often that an aircraft crashes into land, particularly in the Budawang National Park.

"I can't recall that happening in the last 10 or so years. So, not something we respond to all the time," he said.

Investigations will determine what caused the crash.

The Australian Transport Safety Bureau is also investigating and has deployed a team of transport safety investigators from Canberra, Sydney and Brisbane to the area.

It will examine the site and pieces of wreckage and will release a preliminary report in about two months.

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Chaos expected as large hailstones and gusts up to 100km/h forecast for eastern states

Large hailstones and dangerous winds will batter several eastern states, as storms move over the region.

Showers, thunderstorms and strong winds are forecast from south Queensland all the way down to Tasmania from this afternoon and are being driven by a cold front moving across the Great Australian Bight.

The weather may also affect parts of central Australia and the northern parts of South Australia. 

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Large hailstones and dangerous winds will batter several eastern states, as storms move over the region.

The Bureau of Meteorology has issued severe weather warnings for damaging gusts in southern NSW, parts of Melbourne and the Mornington Peninsula in Victoria and southern Tasmania.

Gusts will average between 55km/h and reach a peak of 100km/h.

"They're really, really strong winds that can bring down trees and cause damage," Senior Meteorologist Miriam Bradbury said.

Gusts of up to 80km/h were already recorded at Melbourne Airport today, and up to 100km/h in Hobart overnight. 

As showers and winds make their way through the east, there is also a risk of hailstones.

Bradbury said large hail about 2cm to 4cm in size could hit parts of northern NSW and south-east and inland Queensland this afternoon.

"As soon as we see some storms developing that could produce that large hail, we will issue warnings for them," she said.

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Severe storms swept western NSW on Tuesday bringing heavy rain , strong winds and hail as well as thousands of lightning strikes. Taken near Nyngan Photo Nick Moir 24 Nov 2023

Residents in the affected areas are urged to avoid travel and dangerous hazards, secure loose items around their property and move vehicles away from trees.

They are also advised to stay indoors and away from windows.

The cold front will begin to move offshore towards the Tasman Sea tomorrow, but a storm risk and potential flash flooding persists for north-east NSW and south-east Queensland. 

"Brisbane may see some storms tomorrow, but the risk of severe storms is more likely across southern inland Queensland, pushing down towards the mid north coast," Bradbury said.

"Damaging wind gusts and large hail will be possible with severe storms tomorrow, but we could also see some locally heavy rain that could lead to flash flooding."

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Storm weather. Torrential rain

The combined weather impacts could bring down trees, impacting transport and power.

"We could see damage to trees and property as the strong winds or hail move through," Bradbury said.

"We could also see some disruptions to transport and utilities through our cities, as the strong winds potentially cause some damage."

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Seven teenagers charged with murder over deaths of two Melbourne boys

Seven teenagers have been charged with murder over the deaths of two children in Melbourne's west two weeks ago.

Dau Akueng, 15, and Chol Achiek, 12, were allegedly attacked by a group of people wielding knives and machetes shortly before 8pm on Saturday, September 6 in Cobblebank.

The pair were found critically injured about 200 metres apart, with Chol on Marble Drive and Dau on Cobble Street.

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Dau Akueng, 15, and Chol Achiek, 12, were allegedly attacked by a group of people wielding knives and machetes.

Police carried out warrants at properties about 6am today.

Police have since charged a 19-year-old Thornhill man, two 16-year-old boys and a 15-year-old boy with the murder of Akueng.

A 19-year-old Caroline Springs man, an 18-year-old Wollert man and a 16-year-old boy have been charged with the murder of Achiek.

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Dau Akueng, 15, and Chol Achiek, 12, were attacked by a group of people wielding knives and machetes shortly before 8pm on Saturday, September 6, in Cobblebank.The pair were found critically injured about 200 metres apart, with Chol on Marble Drive and Dau on Cobble Street. Tributes remain at the spots where both of the boys died.

Community leader Richard Deng issued a statement thanking police hours after the arrests were made.

"Today's arrests are great news and a relief not only to the South Sudanese community but also to the wider community," Deng said.

"The arrests will renew hope and trust in Victoria Police and the government.

The community was left reeling in the wake of the boys' deaths and tributes remain at the spots where both of the boys died.

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