David Prestipino
Perth Now
THE BODY of a pilot has been found in the wreckage of a plane that crashed near Broome's iconic Cable Beach last night.
The twin engine freight plane crashed as 250 people were gathered at Cable Beach Amphitheatre to see violinist Richard Tognetti and members of the Australian Chamber Orchestra, about 8pm local time.
Only one person, the pilot, is believed to have been aboard.
Initial reports suggested the plane had crashed into the ocean, with police using boats and aircraft to search between 300 and 800m offshore.
But a local resident found the twisted wreckage and the body in dunes about three hours later.
PerthNow understands the Golden Eagle Airlines plane was on its way to Port Hedland to pick up freight.
It is understood the plane crashed shortly after taking off from Broome Airport, with lights seen over the ocean before suddenly disappearing.
Witnesses say they heard a loud explosion, like a gunshot, before the plane went down near the beach - an iconic destination in the state's North-West.
News of the crash quickly spread on Twitter, with Bridey Eggleton tweeting from the scene.
"I'm here in Broome, and we heard an explosion before it went down, tons of police cars were at the scene, and rescue," she wrote.
