Police have confirmed that five British nationals on holidays in Australia have been killed in a seaplane crash along with the pilot on New Year’s Eve.
An 11-year-old girl was the youngest among the fatalities. The crash occurred mid-afternoon on Sunday, Dec. 31 during what would have been a 20 minute return flight to Rose Bay in the iconic Sydney Harbour. The passengers had just finished having lunch at a restaurant on the Hawkesbury River in Sydney’s north.
The seaplane was a joy flight for the British tourists from the Sydney Seaplanes charter company which has been in operation since 2005.
The bodies were recovered on Sunday. The plane’s wreckage on Monday remained submerged in about 13 meters (42 feet) of water.
Mark Hutchings, Commander of the Marine Area Command NSW Police, told the ABC that the passengers of the joy flight were on holiday in Australia and the accident was “nothing more than just tragic”.
“We have in the course of this investigation, already been in contact with the UK,'' Hutchings said.
The seaplane reportedly sank very quickly.
Sydney Seaplanes have had suspended their operations until further notice. The company’s managing director Aaron Shaw said they are “deeply shocked.” The pilot, Gareth, was an employee of Sydney Seaplanes.
“We do not yet know the cause of the accident.”
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