Seaplane Crash on Australian Tourist Island Claims Three Lives, Injures Three Others

TDT | Manama
Email : editor@newsofbahrain.com

A seaplane crash during takeoff from Rottnest Island, a popular tourist destination off the coast of Western Australia, claimed three lives and injured three others on Tuesday afternoon. The victims included a Swiss tourist, a Danish tourist, and the Australian pilot.

The Cessna 208 Caravan, operated by Swan River Seaplanes, was bound for its base in Perth, 30 kilometers (19 miles) east of the island, also known by its Indigenous name, Wadjemup.

Western Australian Premier Roger Cook confirmed the fatalities: a 65-year-old Swiss woman, a 60-year-old Danish man, and the 34-year-old pilot from Perth. Among the survivors were the partners of the deceased tourists—a 63-year-old Swiss man and a 58-year-old Danish woman—as well as a Western Australian couple, aged 65 and 63. One passenger escaped uninjured, though authorities did not specify who. Western Australian Police Commissioner Col Blanch confirmed that none of the injuries were life-threatening. The injured were taken to a Perth hospital for treatment.

The cause of the crash remains under investigation. Preliminary reports suggest the seaplane may have struck a rock at the entrance to a bay on the island’s west side, but video evidence has yet to confirm this theory.

Rottnest Island, renowned for its beaches and unique wildlife, including quokkas, is a major tourist attraction, especially during the Southern Hemisphere summer.

“Rottnest is our premier tourism destination,” Premier Cook said. “This tragedy, occurring at a place that brings joy to so many, especially during the holiday season, is profoundly upsetting.”

Police divers recovered the victims’ bodies from a depth of 8 meters (26 feet) on Tuesday night, while efforts to retrieve the wreckage continue. Authorities extended their condolences to the victims’ families and assured a thorough investigation into the incident.