There are survivors

Deaths in seaplane crash in Australia

A Cessna 208 Caravan(Bild: Santi Rodríguez - stock.adobe.com)

Three people have died in the crash of a seaplane carrying tourists off the coast of Western Australia. Four people survived the accident. Three of them are seriously injured and are being treated in hospital, three others are missing.

The accident occurred on Tuesday afternoon (local time) during take-off on Rottnest Island near the metropolis of Perth. The victims are a 65-year-old Swiss woman, a 60-year-old Dane and the 34-year-old pilot.

Boats rushed to help
Numerous boats in the area immediately rushed to the scene of the accident to help the victims. They had risked their own safety to help complete strangers who were in urgent need, according to the Premier of the state of Western Australia, Roger Cook.

Hours-long search in the sea
After the accident, police divers spent hours searching the water for three of the seven passengers who were initially missing. They were discovered during the night, but could only be recovered dead. The authorities are investigating what exactly happened. The survivors will later be questioned by investigators about the course of the accident.

Video of the rescue operation:

According to the Australian news agency AAP, the Cessna 208 Caravan had only recently been purchased by operator Swan River Seaplanes to offer scenic flights over Perth and Rottnest Island. The island, with its white sandy beaches and beautiful bays, is a popular vacation destination for tourists from all over the world.