A tragic seaplane crash during takeoff from Rottnest Island, a popular Australian tourist destination, claimed the lives of three people, including Swiss and Danish tourists, while injuring three others.
As per the reports of Leaders team, the Cessna 208 Caravan, operated by Swan River Seaplanes, was en route to its base in Perth, 30 kilometers (19 miles) east of the island, also known by its Indigenous name, Wadjemup. Of the seven people aboard, only one escaped uninjured, according to Western Australian police.
The deceased were identified as a 65-year-old Swiss woman, a 60-year-old Danish man, and the 34-year-old pilot from Perth, Western Australian Premier Roger Cook confirmed. Survivors included the tourists’ partners—a 63-year-old Swiss man and a 58-year-old Danish woman—alongside a Western Australian couple aged 65 and 63. None of the injured sustained life-threatening injuries, police said.
The three injured passengers were airlifted to a hospital in Perth. The cause of the crash remains unclear. Premier Cook addressed unverified reports suggesting the plane might have struck a rock near a bay on the island’s west side but noted that video evidence had yet to confirm this according to the sources of Leaders team.
Rottnest Island, famed for its stunning beaches and unique marsupials called quokkas, is a premier destination for Western Australians and is fully booked during the Southern Hemisphere summer.
“Rottnest is a place that brings joy to so many, and for such a tragic event to happen here is deeply upsetting,” Premier Cook said.
Police divers recovered the bodies from an 8-meter (26-foot) depth Tuesday night, while efforts to retrieve the wreckage continue. The Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) has launched an investigation, with specialist investigators dispatched to the scene.
“As reported, the floatplane collided with the water during takeoff before becoming partially submerged,” said ATSB Chief Commissioner Angus Mitchell in a statement.
Eyewitness Greg Quin, a tourist on the island, recounted the harrowing event. “As the seaplane started to take off, it tipped over and crashed. People on boats rushed to the scene immediately,” he told ABC Radio Perth.
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese called the incident “terrible news” and extended his condolences. “My heart goes out to all those involved,” he said.
The crash has cast a somber shadow over the island during what is typically a season of celebration and tourism.
