By Rachael Ward in Melbourne

Quick-acting emergency crews have helped a pilot survive what would usually be a “catastrophic” crash that has sent shockwaves through the tight-knit aviation community.

Experienced pilot Glenn Collins was attempting an aerobatic manoeuvre at the Avalon Airshow on Friday afternoon when his aircraft plunged to the ground.

Tens of thousands of horrified spectators watched as his aircraft dropped and skidded along the ground.

He suffered life-threatening injuries and was airlifted to a Melbourne hospital where he was in a stable condition as of Saturday morning.

Mr Collins is a long-time member of Paul Bennet Airshows’ Sky Aces aerobatics team which has performed across the globe.

He has more than 2700 hours of flying experience and is an aerobatics champion.

“The Bennet family and the Paul Bennet Airshows team are thinking of Glenn Collins, who remains in hospital, and his family at this time,” the organisation said in a statement.

“We would like to acknowledge the extraordinary level of support from medical staff as well as messages of support received from here and around the world.”

Australian Transport Safety Bureau Chief Commissioner Angus Mitchell praised first responders who assisted Mr Collins.

“Anytime there’s an aircraft impact with terrain it generally is a catastrophic occurrence with a lot of force involved,” he told reporters at Avalon on Saturday.

“Anytime we can get a pilot that managed to survive that … credit goes to the first responders who do get there quickly and hopefully that certainly aided in hopefully what is going to be a recovery of the pilot.”

The wreck of the orange plane – a Wolf Pitts Pro aircraft capable of travelling at a top speed of 414km/h – came to a stop near the tarmac and sparked a small grass fire.

A Jetstar flight due to fly from Sydney to Avalon late on Friday was diverted to Melbourne’s Tullamarine airport due to the crash.

The bureau is investigating the accident but the results are not expected for several months.

Recordings from the aircraft’s black box, air traffic control, members of the public and a Garmin device and phone inside the plane have been collected but anyone else with additional footage has been urged to come forward.

Mr Mitchell said the bureau would investigate the aerobatic display, approvals, the plane, maintenance history and pilot history.

The commissioner believes it is the first crash at the Avalon Airshow.

It happened hundreds of metres from spectators, with one onlooker telling AAP the crowd was “stunned”.

Avalon Airshow reopened its gates at 8am on Saturday but the flying display was pushed back until after midday once investigators had given the green light.

The air show’s boss, Justin Giddings, said it was the most serious incident in the event’s history and firefighters were there to assist Mr Collins within one minute of the crash.

He said the aircraft was flying “well away” from spectators and the crowd was moved further back from the runway specifically for the show.

“It’s totally compliant with the regulations so absolutely rest assured that we have the highest standards in the world on these things and that’s why this has not been a tragedy worse than it is,” he said.

The show was abandoned after the accident and ticket holders who left early were offered free general admission to the event on Sunday.

Aircraft Owners and Pilots Association of Australia chief executive Benjamin Morgan said Mr Collins was a highly respected member of the Sky Aces and the accident had affected the close-knit aviation community.

“We are somewhat heartened by the fact that Glenn has been able to get out of the aircraft and has been taken to the hospital in Melbourne, where he’s receiving world-class care and medical attention,” Mr Morgan said.

“Now it will be a journey to recovery and hopefully he obviously does make a full and speedy recovery.”