Outback town remembers deadly plane crash
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The community of Winton, Queensland, Australia, commemorated the 60th anniversary of the Ansett-ANA Flight 149 crash on September 22, 1966, which killed all 24 people on board.
The flight had departed from Mount Isa, heading to Brisbane via Longreach, when an engine fire caused the aircraft to break apart and crash 19 kilometers west of Winton. The tragedy deeply affected the small outback town, with some residents still recalling the event vividly decades later.
The crash prompted one of the largest aviation investigations in Australian history. Investigators determined a faulty motor ignited a fire that spread to an engine, ultimately causing the plane to fail mid-flight. The incident occurred alongside two other similar crashes in Australia, prompting a reassessment of aviation safety standards. Elizabeth Gillam, daughter of the co-pilot, and Anne O'Leary, daughter of the pilot, both attended the anniversary ceremony.
Gillam has been working on an oral history project to document the crash and its aftermath, while O'Leary shared how the loss of her father altered her family’s life. The project aims to preserve memories of the event, understand its broader impact, and inform future safety practices.
