Death plane had been rebuilt after crash

The plane in which Ms Bowden and Mr Cousins, inset, died is lifted from the water A SEAPLANE that crashed in Australia killing five Britons had been “destroyed” in a fatal accident more than 20 years ago, it was revealed yesterday.

The aircraft, first registered in 1964, was being used to spray crops in 1996 when it crashed into a hill, killing the pilot, an Australian government report showed.

Under “damage to aircraft”, investigators said it had been carrying a full load of fuel and was classified as “destroyed”.

But it was rebuilt after the crash in Kotupna, New South Wales.

The aircraft is believed to have been owned by several other businesses before being acquired by Sydney Seaplanes.

Millionaire Richard Cousins, 58, and his magazine editor fiancee Emma Bowden, 48, were killed in the latest crash on New Year’s Eve. His sons William, 25, and Edward, 23, also died along with Ms Bowden’s 11-year-old daughter Heather and Canadian-born pilot Gareth Morgan, 44.

The group had been flying back to Sydney in the single-engine De Havilland DHC-2 Beaver after lunch at a waterside restaurant.

An investigation is under way to establish the cause of the disaster.

Nat Nagy, executive director of the Australian Transport Safety Bureau, said yesterday: “I am aware of a previous incident with this aircraft. There were a number of factors in that incident and that will be something we look at.

“It’s a matter of routine in any investigation to look at the individual aircraft’s history and any other incidents that may be relevant.”

The seaplane apparently nosedived into Hawkesbury River about 25 miles north of Sydney during the £1,500 tourist flight.

It was said it had “sunk rapidly” after impact. Police divers have recovered six bodies from the wreck, which has now been brought to the surface by crane.

Friends and colleagues described Mr Cousins as a “well-known and respected” businessman who helped transform the fortunes of catering company Compass Group after taking charge in 2006.

Ms Bowden is a former arts editor at OK! Magazine. The couple, of Tooting, south London, were due to marry in July.

Wedding guests received their invitations days before the tragedy.