FOUR BRITS DEAD IN SEAPLANE HORROR
Oz aircraft plunged into river
FOUR British tourists and an 11-year-old boy died when a seaplane crashed in Australia.
They perished along with the pilot when the aircraft nosedived into the Hawkesbury River near Sydney, police said.
It happened just after 3pm local time (4am UK time) yesterday during a New Year’s Eve wine and dine sightseeing flight.
Their fun turned to terror as the aircraft went down on its return to the city.
The Sydney Seaplanes craft smashed into the water and sank rapidly. Police divers recovered six bodies from ® the submerged wreckage 42ft below on the riverbed.
Dramatic footage taken from a nearby boat captured the aircraft just moments before it plunged into the river.
Dipped
Eyewitness Myles Baptiste said he saw the plane flying towards him about 500 metres away when it hit the water.
“It made a tight right-hand turn and as it turned around, the wings dipped and it nosedived into the water,” he said.
Sydney Seaplanes offers flights over the city, with passengers treated to sights such as the famous Opera House and Harbour Bridge.
It is a favourite with celebrities such as Pippa Middleton, Microsoft founder Bill Gates and singers Ed Sheeran and Sam Smith who have flown with them.
The company said it was shocked by the accident.
An investigation is under way to determine the cause of the crash.
The Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) said the single-engine plane was reported to have sunk quickly after hitting the water.
A spokesman said: “A DHC-2 Beaver Seaplane operated by Sydney Seaplanes was flying near Jerusalem Bay.
“It is understood there was one pilot and five passengers on a return flight to Rose Bay, Sydney Harbour.”