Watch FIFA World Cup 2026™ LIVE, FREE and EXCLUSIVE

Body found in search for Qld mum

Police have found a woman's body in the search for a Queensland mother who vanished on a birthday flight off the Gold Coast.

A woman's body has been found in the search for Queensland mother Trista Applebee after a plane crashed during a scenic flight to celebrate her birthday.

The body was found at a beach on North Stradbroke Island on Friday.

"Police believe the woman to be the 31-year-old passenger from the Yak 52 aircraft that failed to return from a flight," a police statement said.

Ms Applebee was on a joy flight with experienced pilot Marcel van Hattem, 52, when his Soviet-era plane crashed off the Gold Coast on Wednesday.

Mr van Hattem's body was found in wreckage of South Stradbroke Island on Thursday afternoon.

Police will now prepare a report for the coroner.


1 min read

Published

Source: AAP



Share this with family and friends


Get SBS News daily and direct to your Inbox

Sign up now for the latest news from Australia and around the world direct to your inbox.

By subscribing, you agree to SBS’s terms of service and privacy policy including receiving email updates from SBS.

Follow SBS News

Download our apps

Listen to our podcasts

Get the latest with our News podcasts on your favourite podcast apps.

Watch on SBS

SBS World News

Take a global view with Australia's most comprehensive world news service

Watch now

Watch the latest news videos from Australia and across the world