A PLANE belonging to the Royal Flying Doctor Service has been forced to make an emergency landing at Charleville Airport after a reported mid-air lightning strike.
The drama unfolded yesterday afternoon as a wild storm, bringing hail and damaging winds, ripped across the South West, prompting a major response by local emergency services at about 4pm.
Nine News reported last night that a small electrical fire had broken out on-board the aircraft and it’s understood three people were later treated by paramedics after suffering smoke inhalation.
The storm dumped more heavy rain on the South West including Augathella where close to 50 millimetres fell in just 30 minutes whilst on Barradeen station, north-east of Charleville, it was almost 40 millimetres in the gauge.
Further afield, in the Central West, there were reports of hailstones, up to three centimetres in diameter, coming down between Blackall and Barcaldine.
A number of roads remain closed including, at last report, the Quilpie Adavale Road.
POSTED: Thursday, October 22, 2026