Tributes to St Andrews graduate killed in Australian air crash

Authorities say it is important not to jump to conclusions

Tributes have been paid to a St Andrews University graduate who was among six people killed in a Hogmanay plane crash in Australia.

Edward Cousins, 23, and his family were flying back to Sydney’s Rose Bay when their seaplane plunged into the Hawkesbury River on December 31.

Mr Cousins, his father Richard, 58, brother William, 25, father’s fiancée Emma Bowden, 48, and Emma’s daughter Heather, 11, all lost their life along with pilot Gareth Morgan, 44.

Edward was well-known as president of St Andrews University’s Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) Club.

Alex Brinkman, of the MMA Club, said: “He truly embodied what it means to be a martial artist.

“His love of the sport and desire to make our club the best possible made him one of the best people to train with and a fabulous friend.

“He will be missed.”

Air accident investigators are examining the wreckage of the De Havilland DHC-2 Beaver involved in Sunday’s accident, although comparisons have been drawn with a crash in Quebec, Canada, in August 2015, involving a similar type of plane.

On that occasion, the aircraft crashed into the side of a mountain, killing a family of four from Milton Keynes. Yesterday, Nat Nagy, executive director of the Australian Transport Safety Bureau, said all incidents involving the same model of plane would be looked into as part of the investigation.

He said: “We will be looking at any previous incidents and accidents specifically around this type of aircraft.

“It’s been in use and service for many decades so we will be thoroughly looking at it.

“I think it’s important not to draw any conclusions that this is something that is a systemic issue.

“We haven’t identified anything previously that there’s anything systemic.

“Over the course of this week we will be able to piece together the factors surrounding the accident and from there – if we do identify any issue that is a safety critical issue, we will notify the appropriate authorities immediately.”

Mr Nagy said the aircraft was manufactured in 1963 and that it was not unusual to have a plane of that age still in use.

The exact circumstances surrounding Sunday’s crash remain unclear and investigators are working to reconstruct the events leading up to it.

Mr Nagy told reporters the plane made a right-hand turn prior to the impact with the water about 10 minutes later.

His team will now be examining the aircraft data to find out what happened at the time of the incident, including whether the plane was operating at full power and whether it was climbing or descending at the time.

Any recovered mobile phones, iPads and GoPros will also be examined by experts.

We will be looking at any previous incidents and accidents specifically around this type of aircraft. NAT NAGY EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, AUSTRALIAN TRANSPORT SAFETY BUREAU

Ed Cousins died in an airplane crash in Australia on New Year’s Eve.