A pilot shared a video of himself enjoying a ride over Queensland just days before a plane crash claimed the lives of himself and his pregnant wife.
Rhiley Kuhrt and his pregnant wife Maree were set to fly from cattle station Natal Downs in North Queensland to Lakeside Airpark at Bloomsbury but the alarm was raised when they didn't arrive, The Guardian reports.
Flying in Rhiley's white and green Piper Cherokee, the pair were due to arrive at 5:00 PM on Sunday but air traffic control reported them overdue at 6:30 PM local time, per News.com.au.
The search was concluded at around 10:15 AM local time on Monday after a QG Rescue helicopter located the crash site in the Clarke Range mountain range.
Just days before the crash occurred, Rhiley shared a heartbreaking video of himself in the cockpit of his aircraft laughing with his dogs who had joined him for the journey.
On March 30, the video was shared on his Facebook page with the caption: "Wick afternoon run over the sorghum harvest and a bit of fun."
Tragically, just hours before the plane crash claimed her life, Maree shared an image on her Instagram profile holding her baby bump with the caption: "27 weeks now! Getting closer and closer to meeting baby girl."
As per the Daily Mail, the pair had celebrated a gender reveal party in February and were looking forward to welcoming their daughter as friends and family celebrated with confetti.
Bureau of Meteorology duty forecaster Ricus Lombard said that search teams had to combat poor weather conditions during their search which involved aircraft searching locations around the airfield.
A spokesperson for the Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) said: "A crash site was located in the Clarke Ranges west of Proserpine by QG Air Rescue helicopter based in Townsville.
"An aircraft located at the crash site is confirmed to be the light aircraft that was reported missing after leaving Natal Downs Station in Queensland yesterday afternoon. Queensland Police are co-ordinating with next of kin."
Sadly, police confirmed that the bodies of the couple were found with the aircraft.
Friends and family of the couple have taken to social media to pay their respects, as one person wrote: " Life can be so cruel, hug your loved ones even tighter tonight. Maree im sure Yia-Yia will be waiting with a fresh batch of Baklava for the three of you.
"It was a pleasure watching you grow from the young little girl riding around on your scooter into beautiful woman & mother to be that you are. My thoughts are with the Notaras & Kuhrt family. Rest Easy Cowgirl."
A second added: "12 weeks away from the arrival of their bub…. Hopes, dreams and young lives gone in an instant. Sincerest condolences to the families and loved ones of Maree Kuhrt and Rhiley Kuhrt. Such a tragedy."
Our thoughts are with the loved ones of Rhiley and Maree.
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