Connellan air disaster
Encyclopedia
The Connellan air disaster was a suicide attack
at Alice Springs Airport
, Northern Territory
, Australia
on 5 January 1977. Carried out by a disgruntled former employee of Connellan Airways
(Connair), who flew a Beechcraft Baron
into the Connair complex at the airport, the attack killed four other people and injured four more, two of them seriously. The disaster is one of only two aircraft suicide attacks in Australia
's history, the other being in 1982 at Bankstown Airport
.
to Australia alone in the early 1970s, but had trouble adjusting and, in 1974, tried to forge a Qantas
ticket back to England. The forged ticket was detected and Forman had a conviction recorded against him.
In November 1975, Forman obtained a commercial pilot's license, and he started flying for Connair in January 1976. However, the ticket forgery soon came to light and Forman was dismissed after seven weeks. He then found another job at Ord Air Charter in Kununurra, but was soon fired from there as well. Forman apparently believed that Roger Connellan, his boss at Connair, had informed Ord Air about his forgery conviction.
, and stole a Beechcraft 58 Baron twin-engine piston plane (registration number VH-ENA) from the airfield. Before leaving, he wrote a suicide letter in his pilot's logbook, giving the entry the title "Alice Springs Suicide Mission" and stating that his aim was “to kill and maim as many employees of Connair Pty Ltd as possible”.
Alice Springs is four hours flying time from Wyndham in a Beechcraft Baron, and Forman had planned to strike at 10 am during the company's morning break. However, he did not account for the time difference between Western Australia
and the Northern Territory
, and arrived at 11 am. He broadcast a final message by radio, stating “It is better to die with honor than live without it – Echo – November – Alpha.” Forman then set full power on both engines and aimed at the Connellan complex before plunging into the building.
The plane hit the center of the Connair building. Roger Connellan (32 years old), son of founder Eddie Connellan, was killed instantly, along with engineers Markus Chittoni (31) and Ron Dymock (48). Secretary Liana Nappi (19) was badly burned and died of her wounds five days later.
in 1980.
The attack remains a sore topic in Alice Springs and is intentionally not covered by the Central Australian Aviation Museum.
Suicide attack
A suicide attack is a type of attack in which the attacker expects or intends to die in the process.- Historical :...
at Alice Springs Airport
Alice Springs Airport
Alice Springs Airport is a small regional airport 14 kilometres south of Alice Springs in the Northern Territory of Australia.The airport has two runways, the largest of which can accommodate a Boeing 747 or 777 landing...
, Northern Territory
Northern Territory
The Northern Territory is a federal territory of Australia, occupying much of the centre of the mainland continent, as well as the central northern regions...
, Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
on 5 January 1977. Carried out by a disgruntled former employee of Connellan Airways
Connellan Airways
Connellan Airways was an Australian air services company that was founded by Edward Connellan and operated in northern Australia.-The beginnings:...
(Connair), who flew a Beechcraft Baron
Beechcraft Baron
|-See also:- Further reading :*Harding, Stephen. U.S. Army Aircraft Since 1947. Shrewsbury, UK:Airlife Publishing, 1990. ISBN 1-85310-102-8.*Michell, Simon. Jane's Civil and Military Aircraft Upgrades 1994-95. Coulsdon, UK:Jane's Information Group, 1994. ISBN 0-7106-1208-7.*Taylor, John W. R....
into the Connair complex at the airport, the attack killed four other people and injured four more, two of them seriously. The disaster is one of only two aircraft suicide attacks in Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
's history, the other being in 1982 at Bankstown Airport
Bankstown Airport
Bankstown Airport is a general aviation airport and business park located in the City of Bankstown, from the central business district of Sydney, Australia...
.
Background
The perpetrator, Colin Richard Forman, was 23 years old at the time of the attack. He had migrated from the United KingdomUnited Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
to Australia alone in the early 1970s, but had trouble adjusting and, in 1974, tried to forge a Qantas
Qantas
Qantas Airways Limited is the flag carrier of Australia. The name was originally "QANTAS", an initialism for "Queensland and Northern Territory Aerial Services". Nicknamed "The Flying Kangaroo", the airline is based in Sydney, with its main hub at Sydney Airport...
ticket back to England. The forged ticket was detected and Forman had a conviction recorded against him.
In November 1975, Forman obtained a commercial pilot's license, and he started flying for Connair in January 1976. However, the ticket forgery soon came to light and Forman was dismissed after seven weeks. He then found another job at Ord Air Charter in Kununurra, but was soon fired from there as well. Forman apparently believed that Roger Connellan, his boss at Connair, had informed Ord Air about his forgery conviction.
Attack
Early on the morning of 5 January 1977, Forman drove to Wyndham, Western AustraliaWyndham, Western Australia
Wyndham is the oldest and northernmost town in the Kimberley region of Western Australia, located on the Great Northern Highway, northeast of Perth. It was established in 1885 as a result of a gold rush at Halls Creek, and it is now a port and service centre for the east Kimberley with a...
, and stole a Beechcraft 58 Baron twin-engine piston plane (registration number VH-ENA) from the airfield. Before leaving, he wrote a suicide letter in his pilot's logbook, giving the entry the title "Alice Springs Suicide Mission" and stating that his aim was “to kill and maim as many employees of Connair Pty Ltd as possible”.
Alice Springs is four hours flying time from Wyndham in a Beechcraft Baron, and Forman had planned to strike at 10 am during the company's morning break. However, he did not account for the time difference between Western Australia
Western Australia
Western Australia is a state of Australia, occupying the entire western third of the Australian continent. It is bounded by the Indian Ocean to the north and west, the Great Australian Bight and Indian Ocean to the south, the Northern Territory to the north-east and South Australia to the south-east...
and the Northern Territory
Northern Territory
The Northern Territory is a federal territory of Australia, occupying much of the centre of the mainland continent, as well as the central northern regions...
, and arrived at 11 am. He broadcast a final message by radio, stating “It is better to die with honor than live without it – Echo – November – Alpha.” Forman then set full power on both engines and aimed at the Connellan complex before plunging into the building.
The plane hit the center of the Connair building. Roger Connellan (32 years old), son of founder Eddie Connellan, was killed instantly, along with engineers Markus Chittoni (31) and Ron Dymock (48). Secretary Liana Nappi (19) was badly burned and died of her wounds five days later.
Aftermath
Connellan Airways was sold to East-West AirlinesEast-West Airlines (Australia)
East-West Airlines was an Australian regional airline founded in Tamworth, New South Wales in 1947. It operated to major regional city-centres and connected these centres to various provincial capitals. It was purchased from its original founders in a share buy-out by Bryan Grey and Duke Minks...
in 1980.
The attack remains a sore topic in Alice Springs and is intentionally not covered by the Central Australian Aviation Museum.