> Three rescued in float-plane crash off Sunshine Coast,

SECHELT — Sunshine Coast resident Ian Bolden was out paddling on Davis Bay Tuesday when he watched a float plane circle in the sky, dip low toward the water, turn into the wind and disappear in a big splash.

Bolden hustled back to shore to report the crash and said that by the time he was done, rescue crews were circling the area.

Officials said three people were aboard the plane when it went down Tuesday afternoon and all were taken to hospital with minor injuries.

Bolden said he watched a tug boat hauling gravel near the crash assist in the rescue.

“It cut its barge free and blasted out to where the crash site was and picked up the people, who were then transferred to the coast guard hovercraft, which brought them to shore just down the beach from us,” he said.

“They appeared to be in reasonably good condition,” Bolden said, adding that the plane occupants were walking with the support of rescuers.

It’s a high-traffic area for sea planes and Bolden said he has seen a few scary landings, including one in which a plane appeared to lose its engine power and glide safely down to the water.

Transportation Safety Board spokesman Chris Krepski said the plane in Tuesday’s incident was a privately operated De Havilland Beaver flying from Vancouver to Pender Harbour. A pilot and two passengers were aboard.

The plane experienced an engine-power loss and was forced to make an emergency landing, Krepski said.

“The aircraft sustained substantial damage and became submerged underwater.”

Krepski said the TSB will not investigate the crash.

The plane’s occupants were taken to shore in Sechelt, where Emergency Health Services paramedics were ready.

RCMP Const. Karen Whitby says the the pilot and passengers appeared to have only “bumps and bruises,” but were taken to the local hospital for further assessment. Emergency Health Services confirmed their injuries were “minor.”

The Joint Rescue Co-ordination Centre in Victoria said several rescuers responded to the incident, including crews from the navy, Transport Canada, Canadian Coast Guard and Vancouver Fire Rescue.