- A pilot made an emergency landing on a Surfers Paradise beach on Saturday
- Mark Waterford said that the engine on his ultra-light aircraft failed mid flight
- ‘It was lucky the beach wasn’t packed or I would’ve had to land in water,’ he said
- The plane is now begin examined and assessed to see if it needs to be repaired
A Queensland tourist hotspot became an emergency runaway on Saturday afternoon as a plane was forced to make a sudden, unplanned landing on the beach.
Sunbathers and beachgoers watched in confusion and then panic as Mark Waterford’s ultra-light aircraft came down on the sand at Surfer’s Paradise.
‘The engine decided to go on holidays, so [I decided to] just forward the stick a bit like a normal landing, like anywhere, and just land on the beach,’ the quick-thinking pilot told 9NEWS.
Mark Waterford (pictured) was forced to make an emergency landing on a Queensland beach
A beach in Surfer’s Paradise became a makeshift runway for a light plane with engine failure
The plane skidded along the sane before coming to a stop. Luckily, nobody was injured and Mr Waterford remained in good spirits.
‘It’s not where I wanted to land, but that’s just life,’ he chuckled, addressing the media after his miraculous beach-side landing.
‘He just started to drop,’ an incredulous witnessed recalled. ‘And it was so obvious that he wasn’t meant to be there.’
Mr Waterford said that he was lucky that the beach wasn’t packed with people, or else he would be looking at an emergency water landing.
The plane is now being examined and repaired as the 12-year veteran pilot prepares to celebrate Christmas by relaxing with a beer and an afternoon swim.
The plane is now being examined as the 12-year veteran pilot prepares for a relaxing Christmas