A seaplane crashed off Shark Island in Sydney Harbour earlier today, leaving passengers in shock and one injured. The incident occurred shortly after 11:45 am when the aircraft, owned by Sydney Seaplanes, hit an object during takeoff and crashed into the water.
According to police, one of the pontoons suffered damage and fell off, causing the crash. There were eight passengers on board, all of whom were able to evacuate onto a boat. One passenger suffered minor injuries and was treated at the scene by paramedics.
The pilot, who was taking off from the water when the incident occurred, discontinued the takeoff and ensured the passengers were removed from the plane.
“It’s damaged the float… It’s the sort of thing that happens at airports frequently. It’s something we will take seriously,” said Aaron Shaw, director of Sydney Seaplanes.
Passengers praised the pilot’s quick thinking and professionalism.
“I was sat at the front, right next to the pilot. He tried to take off, we thought we’d actually taken off, and then he just landed with quite a jolt,” one passenger recounted.
“It bounced, bounced, bounced, and then boom. Next thing, the plane just went to one side,” another added.
The full extent of the damage to the aircraft is currently unknown. Vision from the scene showed one of the plane’s wings angled into the water, before it was later pulled ashore on nearby rocks.
The Australian Transport Safety Bureau is gathering details on the incident and will decide whether to investigate based on that information.
This is not the first time Sydney Seaplanes has been under investigation. The bureau previously investigated the company following a fatal crash on New Year’s Eve in 2017, which resulted in the deaths of all five passengers and the pilot.
Published 25-January-2024
