Australian authorities have launched an investigation into the loss of the 737 FireLiner
The Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) has launched an investigation into the loss of a Coulson Aviation Boeing 737 fire fighting aircraft in Western Australia.
The modified jet, known in service as the FireLiner, was engaged in aerial firefighting activities on February 6 when it collided with terrain and was destroyed; its two crew members escaped with minor injuries.
Flight tracking data shows Tanker 139, 737-3H4 N619SW (c/n 28035), was responding to a wildfire near the Hopetoun area of the Fitzgerald River National Park at the time of the incident. It departed from Busselton Margaret River Airport, approximately 120 miles south of Perth, at 15:32hrs local time on its third mission of the day and, according to the authority, crashed around 16:16hrs after completing a fire-retardant drop.
