A pilot and cameraman have been confirmed dead after their jet crashed into water while filming a documentary teaching people how to fly planes with no experience.
Pilot Stephen Gale and filmmaker James Rose were reported missing after two light S-211 Marchetti planes collided mid-air.
One of the former military jets crashed into Port Philip Bay near Mount Martha on Sunday afternoon with Victoria Police confirming human remains were found in the plane.
The other plane sparked a mayday call but landed safely at Essendon Airport with police interviewing the pilot of that plane.
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In a statement confirming human remains had been found, officers said: “They are believed to be the missing occupants of the plane, a 56-year-old Brunswick man and a 30-year-old Surrey Hills man.”
Gale and Rose were believed to be filming a documentary series that aimed to teach people how to fly who currently have no experience.
The proposed documentary series was originally called Any Fool Can Fly before being renamed to Jet School.
Gale was previously a pilot with the Royal Australian Air Force and was the owner of the two jets involved in the crash.
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James Rose was also a cameraman on MasterChef Australia
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In a heartbreaking post, one of the novice pilots involved in the series Tommy Little, paid tribute to Gale and offered his condolences to Gales’s widow and young son.
He wrote on social media: “This week I lost one of my closest mates, my mentor and my sidekick in the sky.
“To put it bluntly Stephen Gale is the most intelligent man I’ve ever met in my life and our relationship was the perfect example of when opposites attract.
“An inventor, an adventurer and a heart of gold. He was a real life Tony Stark but with a flying suit instead of an iron one. His love for aviation was unparalleled.”
One of the S-211 Marchetti jets in its hanger, behind police tape
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He continued: “To Tori, I know you know this but that man loved and admired you like nothing else. No one made him happy like you. Both you and your beautiful little man were the best things that ever happened to him.
“To Little Tommy, losing your dad before your first birthday is something that shouldn’t happen to any baby but I promise to be the best godfather ever and constantly remind you of the tour de force that was your dad.
“Plus, your mum happens to be Wonder Woman so you’ll be more than fine. We got you.”
Rose’s father also paid tribute to his son, calling the loss “truly devastating”.
David Rose told the Age: “I know that his story will soon pass and become old news like so many other stories, but I would like the world to know what a wonderful young man he was.”
The Australian Transport Safety Bureau is set to launch a probe into the crash and the Civil Aviation Safety Authority (Casa) will investigate the company’s regulation compliance.
Former military jets such as the S-211 Marchetti that Gale flew are not required to fly with the same degree of safety as other aircraft.
The Casa said all who fly on ex-military planes must sign a pre-flight form which confirms they accept the risks of flying.
They add that ex-military jets “do not need to meet any standard we recognise”.
