Crash at Avalon Australian International Airshow leaves pilot critically injured

RUPIRUPICELLEB - A plane has crashed during the Avalon Australian International Airshow, south-west of Melbourne. Police say emergency services were called to reports a plane known as a Pitts Special aerobatic aircraft had crashed into the tarmac while conducting a demonstration about 5:15pm on Friday. The pilot and sole occupant of the aircraft, a man aged in his 50s, was flown to the Alfred Hospital in Melbourne with critical injuries, an Ambulance Victoria spokesperson said. A Victoria Police spokesperson said the crash happened away from spectators and there were no other people injured. The plane, which crashed during the first public day of the event, is believed to have been a part of the Paul Bennet Airshows team. Spectator Andrew Pearce said the crash happened just a few hundred metres in front of the crowd. He said the plane hit the ground as it was coming out of a loop. "He didn't just nosedive, he kind of hit his belly. "The cockpit ...