Plane crash tragedy
The mining industry is mourning the death of engineer Peter Lynch, a senior executive of Fortescue Metals Group, who died when the antique plane he was flying crashed into Perth's Swan River on Thursday.
The 52-year-old father of three moved to Perth from Queensland last year to become Fortescue's director of business development after a long career in the coal mining industry, including as chief executive of a subsidiary of Clive Palmer's Mineralogy, Waratah Coal.
Mr Lynch and his partner 30-year-old Endah Cakrawati, Cokal's investor relations manager, were killed just after 5pm local time on Thursday when the 1948 Grumman Mallard seaplane he was flying crashed into the river near Fortescue's Perth headquarters.
It was performing in front of thousands in an aerial show as part of the City of Perth's Australia Day Skyworks. The event was subsequently cancelled.
In a statement on Friday afternoon, Fortescue chief executive Nev Power, who is also a pilot, said Mr Lynch "brought energy, enthusiasm and a great team spirit" to his role.
In an earlier memo to staff Mr Power said Mr Lynch "took on challenges with enthusiasm and a deep larrikin spirit that shone through, whatever the situation".
Clive Palmer said Mr Lynch was well-known and respected in the mining community throughout Australia and South East Asia and had "provided Waratah with a vision to develop the Galilee Basin as a vertically integrated mine, rail and port project".
Mr Palmer added Mr Lynch's "zest for business flowed into his personal life, where his passions for restoring cars, boating and flying, were infectious".
ASX-listed Cokal, of which Mr Lynch was the co-founder and executive chairman, said Mr Lynch was "incredibly proud of Cokal and had worked tirelessly for its success".
Mr Lynch was an experienced pilot who had been flying for decades. Authorities are working to identify the cause of the crash.
