Rhiley and Maree Kuhrt.Photo: Facebook
A pilot and his pregnant wife were found dead after their plane crashed during a storm in Australia over the weekend, authorities say.
Rhiley Kuhrt and his wife, Maree, set off on a trip Sunday afternoon, taking off in a Piper Cherokee airplane from a cattle station in North Queensland, according toThe Guardian.
When the couple failed to arrive at Lakeside Airfield, “concerned family members reported the plane missing,” the RACQ CQ Rescue helicopter service wrote in a statement on social media.
An initial search on Sunday night “failed to find any sign of the aircraft,” according to RACQ.
The following morning, when search efforts resumed, authoritiesfound the downed aircraftin the Clarke Range, part of the Great Dividing Ranges, per Sky News.
Although an investigation into the crash is ongoing, police said that initial evidence suggested the couple, who were believed to be on their way to visit family, had “difficulties"during a “big storm,“per 7NEWS.
During Sunday’s weather, they encountered “showers, a lot of thunder, probably visibility next to nothing,” Inspector Andrew Godbold said, according to the outlet andThe Guardian.
Rhiley, the son of a police officer, was an experienced pilot who had flown over the mountain range before, and owned the aircraft he was flying, Godbold said, per the newspaper.
“It’s just tragic for the family,” the official said on Monday, according to 7NEWS.
Rhiley and Maree Kuhrt.Facebook
Police say that a “formal identification process” of the bodies is underway.
However,due to rugged terrain, which has made it the area “very difficult” to access, the recovery mission could take up to three days, perThe Guardian.
RELATED VIDEO: Plane Crash That Killed Christian Diet Guru Gwen Shamblin Caused By ‘Spatial Disorientation’ of Pilot Husband
Rhiley and Marlee got engaged in June 2021 and tied the knot in 2022, according to their social media posts. Last year, they also found out the happy news that they were “expecting a little cowgirl or cowboy” in June 2023.
In an end of the year post, Marlee wrote that she couldn’t wait for all the “memories and milestones that 2023 has to bring to us.”
Never miss a story — sign up forPEOPLE’s free daily newsletterto stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.
In addition to being a pilot, Rhiley worked as a stockman, perThe Guardian.
Just days before the couple’s fatal crash, Rhileyshared footage from a flying adventure. “Wick afternoon run over the sorghum harvest and abit [sic] of fun” he captioned the post, shared on March 30.
“It was a pleasure knowing him and his presence at the club will be missed,” they added. “Wishing you blue skies and tailwinds Rhiley.”
Local police have said that the couple’s family have requested privacy as they process their loss.
source: people.com
