Who can be held liable if I'm injured in an aviation accident?

Depending on the circumstances, liability may rest with the airline or air carrier, the aircraft operator, a maintenance provider, a manufacturer of defective aircraft parts, or another party whose negligence contributed to the accident. For most passenger flights, the operating carrier is the primary party responsible under the applicable carriers' liability regime. Establishing who is legally responsible requires investigating how and why the accident occurred.

Do I have to prove the airline was negligent to make a claim?

For international passenger carriage governed by the Montreal Convention 1999, you generally do not need to prove airline fault for bodily injury caused by an accident on board or during embarking or disembarking, up to the first-tier threshold. Above it, the carrier can avoid liability by proving no fault by the carrier, its servants or agents, or that the damage was caused solely by a third party’s fault. Passenger contributory negligence may reduce recovery in either tier. Domestic carriage follows separate rules and limits.

Is there a time limit for making an aviation injury claim?

Yes, and it is strict. Under both the Montreal Convention (Article 35) and the Civil Aviation (Carriers' Liability) Act 1959, court proceedings must generally be commenced within two years of the date the aircraft arrived, or ought to have arrived, at its destination. Missing this deadline can permanently extinguish your right to compensation, so it is important to seek advice early.

Does the same law apply to domestic and international flights?

No. International carriage to or from Australia is governed by the Montreal Convention 1999, given effect through the Civil Aviation (Carriers' Liability) Act 1959. Domestic flights within Australia are covered by the domestic provisions of that Act and complementary state legislation. Both regimes apply strict liability and a two-year time limit, but the liability limits and some details differ.

What compensation can I recover after an aviation accident?

Compensation may include damages for your injuries, past and future medical and rehabilitation costs, loss of past and future income or earning capacity, care and assistance, and out-of-pocket expenses. Where a passenger has died, dependants may be able to claim. The carriers' liability regime sets thresholds and, for some claims, statutory limits on the amount recoverable.

What should I do after being injured in an aviation accident?

Seek medical attention promptly and keep records of your treatment and expenses. Report the incident and retain your ticket, booking details and any correspondence. Because strict two-year time limits apply and aviation claims are legally complex, obtain advice from an experienced aviation injury lawyer as soon as possible. You can call Carter Capner Law on 1300 529 529.

Aviation incident feed

Aircraft category

Agricultural aircraft accidents

Accidents and serious incidents involving crop-spraying, crop-dusting and other agricultural aircraft.

All aviation occurrences

Latest listing 7 Sep 2026
473 in the full feed

Aircraft categories

Aircraft category

Registration unknown Agricultural
Air Tractor AT-802

Location

Near Tocumwal, NSW

Operator

Not stated

Occurrence

Air Tractor AT-802 Wire Strike During Agricultural Spraying (7 Sep 2026)

Listed 7 Sep 2026 Read report
Registration unknown Agricultural
Ayres S-2R-T Turbo Thrush

Location

Near Chinchilla, QLD

Operator

Not stated

Occurrence

Ayres S-2R-T Turbo Thrush accident (30 Mar 2026)

Listed 9 Apr 2026 Read report
REGVH-IZF Agricultural
Grumman G-164B AgCat

Location

Charters Towers, QLD

Operator

Tea Extracts Australia Pty Ltd

Occurrence

Engine roughness forces agricultural aircraft down near Charters Towers (18 Mar 2026)

Listed 20 Mar 2026 Read report
REGVH-LIM Agricultural
Air Tractor AT-802

Location

Linga, VIC

Operator

Pay's Air Service Pty Ltd

Occurrence

Air Tractor AT-802 crashes during takeoff at Linga Airfield (4 Dec 2025)

Listed 4 Dec 2025 Read report
REGVH-ODX Agricultural
Air Tractor AT-802

Location

Yeelanna, Eyre Peninsula, SA

Operator

Aerotech Group

Occurrence

Air Tractor AT-802 crashes during crop-spraying near Yeelanna (8 Sep 2025)

Listed 9 Sep 2025 Read report
Registration unknown Agricultural
Ayres S2R-T Turbo Thrush

Location

75 km from Geraldton Aerodrome, WA

Operator

Not stated

Occurrence

Loss of control on take-off Ayres S2R-T Turbo Thrush near Geraldton (4 Nov 2024)

Listed 4 Nov 2024 Read report
REGVH-FFS Agricultural
Air Tractor AT-504

Location

Near Baralaba, QLD

Operator

Moura Aerial Agriculture

Occurrence

Loss of control on landing destroys Air Tractor AT-504 near Baralaba (23 Oct 2024)

Listed 23 Oct 2024 Read report
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Hurt in an agricultural aircraft accident?

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Questions about aviation injury claims

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Agricultural aircraft accidents

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Air Tractor AT-802

Ayres S-2R-T Turbo Thrush

Grumman G-164B AgCat

Air Tractor AT-802

Air Tractor AT-802

Ayres S2R-T Turbo Thrush

Air Tractor AT-504

Questions about aviation injury claims