It flew so low people were worried it was going to crash.  Sarah Lulu Faith posted on the Great Lakes Advocate Facebook page: “It flew so low over Tuncurry Rockpool at about 4pm. I truly thought it would crash.  It did a couple of swoops by, tilting.  People pulled over on the road and groups stared up,  hoping it would make it.” 

But there was no need for concern as an Air Force representative explained it was a C-130J Hercules transport aircraft from Number 37 Squadron, operated from RAAF Base Richmond, north west of Sydney.  

It was conducting a crew training task, flying from RAAF Base Richmond to Tamworth, Coffs Harbour, Port Macquarie, and RAAF Base Williamtown.

“For the southbound leg of this task, the crew conducted a low-level segment as part of refreshing and maintaining important operational flying skills. The crew were authorised to operate down to 75 metres altitude off the coast in accordance with normal RAAF low flying practices.”