The third pilot killed in a mid-air collision in Sydney’s south-west has been identified as 29-year-old Jake Anastas.
He had been flying for half his life and was completing his commercial pilot’s licence training when the crash happened around Belimbla Park near Oakdale on Saturday.
His wife Tori told 9News Anastas will be remembered as “a loving, caring and remarkable husband, who had a tremendous impact on everyone in his life”.
“He was my best friend and my world. He loved flying and made everything brighter, he always made me feel like I could soar with him,” she said.
Anastas was one of three men who died when two light planes collided and crashed into bushland before midday on Saturday, including off-duty Qantas captain Gary Criddle, 72, who was instructing Anastas, and Khadervali Gagguturu, 60, who was the pilot in the second aircraft.
The crash caused a fire to break out in the scrub.
Firefighters worked to extinguish the flames before crews could reach the wreckages.
The Australian Transport Safety Bureau is investigating the crash.
