Crash claims UK CEO
HIGH-PROFILE British businessman Richard Cousins and his family have been identified as the five passengers killed when a seaplane crashed into the Hawkesbury River, north of Sydney.
Experienced pilot Gareth Morgan, 44, also died when the single-engine 1964 DHC-2 Beaver seaplane plunged into Jerusalem Bay on New Year’s Eve.
Mr Cousins, 58, his sons, Edward and William Cousins, aged 23 and 25, his fiancee Emma Bowden, 48, and her daughter, Heather BowdenPage, 11, died in the crash.
Mr Cousins was the CEO of the world’s largest food catering company, Compass Group.
The family was on holiday in Sydney and were returning from lunch at the picturesque Cottage Point Inn when the crash happened.
Sydney Seaplanes has suspended all flights indefinitely in the wake of the tragedy.
Mr Morgan was described as a “lovely and gentle guy” by Sydney Seaplanes managing director Aaron Shaw.
He said Mr Morgan had more than 10,000 flying hours, 9000 of which were on seaplanes.
“We are all absolutely dev- astated at his loss and ringing his parents today was obviously one of the worst calls that I have ever had to make in my life,” Mr Shaw said.
He assured the public the company would be an “open book” and would turn over maintenance logs and information about the fleet to help investigators.
Mr Cousins in September announced his retirement from Compass Group after turning around its financial misfortunes throughout his 11year tenure, UK media widely reported.
He was named as the world’s 11th most powerful CEO by the Harvard Business Review this year.
Compass Group chairman Paul Walsh said the company was “deeply shocked and saddened by this terrible news”.
“The thoughts of everyone at Compass are with Richard’s family and friends, and we extend our deepest sympathies to them,” he said.
Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull earlier offered his condolences to the families of those killed in the crash.
“It is a tragic accident and ... our hearts go out to the families of those whose lives were lost,” he said. AAP