A firefighting plane has crashed while trying to battle a blaze in Western Australia.
The Boeing 737-3 took off from Bunbury, in WA’s southwest, about 3:25pm to help fight a bushfire in the Fitzgerald River National Park, near Hopetown.
The plane is believed to have come down some time after takeoff in the National Park.
Both pilots suffered only minor injuries. They were flown by helicopter to Ravensthorpe Airport before being
taken to hospital by St John Ambulance.
Australian Transport Safety Bureau officers will attend the crash site when possible to conduct an investigation.
The fire near Hopetown is at a watch and act alert level as of Monday night, which means it has the potential to threaten lives and homes.
It was reported about 10am Monday, and has burned through about 900ha since then.
Forty-five Parks and Wildlife Service and volunteer supporting units firefighters are attending, with the blaze uncontrolled and uncontained.
The fire also has the National Park closed.
