Family mourns NSW water-bomber pilot
The body of a pilot killed during a firefighting operation in NSW has been recovered. Source: AAP
A FIREFIGHTING pilot who died when his waterbombing plane crashed in southern NSW was naturally skilled, respected and professional, his family says.
David Black, 43, died when his Dromader aircraft crashed while fighting a fire at Wirritin in Budawang National Park, 40 kilometres west of Ulladulla, around 10am (AEDT) on Thursday.
Reports say one of the plane's wings fell off before the aircraft plummeted to the ground.
In a statement issued on Friday, Mr Black's family described his death as a "tragic loss".
The family says the pilot, from Trangie in central western NSW, had more than 10,000 hours experience and a "high degree of natural skill, commitment and professionalism".
He was popular and respected in the tight-knit community that does the highly specialised work.
Mr Black co-owned Rebel Ag, a company that operates nine agricultural aircraft in the state's central west.
The company also contracts firebombing aircraft and pilots to the Rural Fire Service (RFS).
RFS Commissioner Shane Fitzsimmons has described the death of the father-of-three as a "huge tragedy".
In its one-page statement, the Black family requested privacy during a difficult time.
Mr Black's body has been recovered after fires and strong winds prevented rescue crews from retrieving it from difficult terrain on Thursday.
Investigators will now try to determine what caused the crash.
Federal Justice Minister Michael Keenan said aerial firefighters such as Mr Black were critical in responding to bushfires, and saving lives and homes.
"This tragic death is a reminder of the dangers routinely faced by the emergency services, whether on the ground or in the air, when they're protecting our communities from fire," he said in a statement.
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