The funeral of Shane Whitbread, one of the pilots who was killed in last week’s plane crash at the Darwin Airport has been held in Darwin this morning.

Shane Whitbread died when the Embraer Brasilia he was in banked sharply just after take off, and then crashed into bushland.

He was 50-years-old and leaves behind a wife and two boys.

A packed congregation at St Peter’s in Nightcliff was told of Mr Whitbread’s dedication to his family.

Cherie Whitbread said her husband told her he “loved her everyday” and that he always had time for his two young boys.

“Shane told me he loved me everyday, and he never misses an opportunity to compliment me,” Mrs Whitbread said.

His brother, Greg Whitbread spoke about his brother’s love of flying and being a “true blue Territorian”.

“His work desk was the plane’s cockpit,” he said.

“No one can be sure what happened in those few seconds after take-off.

“The authorities will go through all the information and come up with a finding in due course.

“But nothing they say, or do, will change what’s happened.

“We have lost a loving husband, father, son, brother and mate.”

The congregation also heard Mr Whitbread was heavily involved in Masters Sport and local cricket, despite having “dodgy knees”.

Airnorth chief executive, Michael Bridge said Mr Whitbread was a talented pilot, whose death has left a hole in the small company.

Greg Seymon, who was also killed in the crash, was farewelled at a funeral in Darwin yesterday.

A preliminary Australian Transport Safety Bureau report into the crash is due in the next month.