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Three people have been confirmed dead in a seaplane crash off Rottnest Island in Western Australia on Tuesday.
The 34-year-old pilot, as well as two tourists in their 60s believed to be from Switzerland and Denmark, died after their Cessna 208 Caravan 675, VH-WTY, reportedly crashed into a rocky outcrop on take-off and plunged into the ocean.
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The four other passengers on board were pulled from the water, three of whom – two women and a man – were hospitalised with serious injuries. Police divers later recovered the bodies of the three deceased from the wreckage.
“The images we are seeing of an emergency unfolding off Rottnest Island are deeply concerning,” WA Premier Roger Cook said on social media on Tuesday afternoon.
“My thoughts are with all those affected, and I want to thank our first responders who are attending to the crash site. I am being briefed on the situation, and I will provide an update as more information becomes available.”
The nine-year-old Cessna, registered to tourism operator Swan River Seaplanes, had been newly acquired and ferried over from the east coast, arriving in Perth around New Year.
The previous aircraft to have used the VH-WTY registration, another Cessna 208 Caravan seaplane, was destroyed in a crash near Hamilton Island in 2016, though all 11 passengers and the pilot had escaped safely.
The ATSB has confirmed it has opened a transport safety investigation into the Rottnest Island crash.
“As reported to the ATSB, during take-off the floatplane collided with the water, before coming to rest partially submerged,” the bureau said in a statement.
“The ATSB will deploy a team of transport safety investigators from its Perth, Brisbane and Canberra offices, specialising in aircraft operations and maintenance, and human factors.
“Investigators will conduct a range of evidence-gathering activities, including site and wreckage examination, and recovery of any aircraft components for further examination at the ATSB’s technical facilities in Canberra.
“Investigators will also seek to interview those on board, and any other witnesses and involved parties, and collect relevant recorded information including available flight tracking data, as well as pilot and aircraft maintenance records, and weather information.
“The ATSB asks anyone who may have witnessed or has photos or video footage of the aircraft at any phase of the flight, or in the immediate aftermath of the accident, to make contact via the witness form on our website: atsb.gov.au/witness at their earliest opportunity.”
Swan River Seaplanes has been contacted for comment.
