Police, family believe pilot Bob Bramley did not survive crash off Northern Territory coast

The family of a pilot believed to have died when his plane crashed off Australia’s north coast say they can’t comprehend the “great loss in our lives”.

Police say aircraft debris has been found in the search area where the pilot, identified as Tasmanian man Bob Bramley, crashed in the air charter plane on Tuesday.

Northern Territory Police Assistant Commissioner Peter Malley told reporters in Darwin on Thursday that authorities believed Bramley died in the crash, but they had yet to find a body.

Bramley’s Air Frontier twin-engined Beechcraft Baron aircraft went missing after taking off from Gove airport at Nhulunbuy on the NT coast with only the pilot aboard.

The plane was due to land at the remote Indigenous community of Numbulwar at 11.50am on Tuesday but never arrived.

A search led by NT Police began after a witness on a vessel reported seeing the plane crash into the sea near Isle Woodah in the Gulf of Carpentaria.

The search on Thursday involved police and Aboriginal ranger vessels, a helicopter and a police plane.

Police divers have also been deployed to conduct searches of the sea floor in the vicinity of the crash site.

Search mission co-ordinator, Acting Sergeant Nathan Conelius, told ABC Radio that aircraft debris had been found in the search area on Wednesday.

“That’s helped refine our search planning so we are more hopeful today of finding something else,” he said.

In a statement on Thursday Bramley’s family described him as courageous and inspirational, saying they could not “comprehend this great loss in our lives”.

“There are no words, deeds or silver linings that make this any easier, but our beloved Bob is gone,” they said.

“Bob was a courageous individual, who inspired those around him with his infectious enthusiasm.

“He was a dreamer, who never let fear, problems or pessimists stop him from reaching his goals.”