A tragic seaplane crash near Rottnest Island in Western Australia has claimed the lives of three people, including two tourists and the pilot.
The incident unfolded yesterday afternoon at around 4 pm local time (7 pm AEDT) when the privately owned seaplane, which had arrived from New South Wales only days earlier, crashed into Thompson Bay shortly after takeoff.
WA Premier Roger Cook confirmed the heartbreaking news today, sharing that the bodies of the three victims were recovered overnight. The victims included a 65-year-old woman from Switzerland, a 60-year-old man from Denmark, and the 34-year-old pilot, a Western Australian local.
The plane was carrying one pilot and six passengers when it went down. Among the survivors are four people: a 63-year-old Swiss man, a 58-year-old Danish woman, and two Western Australian men aged 63 and 65.
“Three lives were lost when a seaplane crashed moments after takeoff,” Cook said. “This tragedy unfolded in front of many tourists, including families with children. It may have been distressing for those who witnessed it.”
WA Police Commissioner Col Blanc added that the survivors are recovering from injuries ranging from minor to serious, including a severe hand injury.
Blanc confirmed that the passengers were three couples, plus the pilot. He also expressed gratitude to members of the public who acted quickly to help the survivors escape the wreckage.
“There are large parts of the aircraft still submerged,” Blanc noted, as police and recovery teams continue to remove debris from the crash site. The victims' bodies were retrieved from a depth of eight meters underwater.
Two separate investigations are underway—one by the Australian Transport Safety Bureau and another by WA Police. Authorities are asking anyone with footage of the crash or who witnessed the incident to come forward.
This devastating event has left the community shaken, and our thoughts are with the victims and their loved ones during this difficult time.
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