‘Aww f**k’: Why seaplane may have crashed

A witness has revealed the potential reason why a seaplane flipped and nosedived into waters off Whitsunday Island. See the pictures.

The seaplane flipped before nosediving into waters off Whitsunday Island in Queensland. Picture: Supplied

A doomed seaplane was on its first commercial flight back since the pandemic when it flipped before nosediving into waters off Whitsunday Island in Queensland, it can be revealed.

A new witness has also come forward, revealing a potential cause of the crash near Whitehaven Beach on Saturday.

As The Australian Transport Safety Bureau [ATSB] pressed on with its investigation, yacht skipper Carl Conder told how he feared the worst when he heard a mayday call about a downed seaplane just after 9am and rushed to the scene to find the seaplane’s nose partially submerged in water with its tail in the air.

One of the passengers dived into the water to help another passenger. Everybody was accounted for in the end. Picture: Supplied

Four of the seaplane’s passengers were desperately trying to find the fifth, a woman who had gone into shock after swallowing seawater.

“We were just fearing the worst, that they were dead or there was a dead body or something in there,” Mr Conder said.

“Four of them were out and were hopping into our tender (boat) and they were still jumping and trying to find the fifth lady just as we arrived and when she came out she was in lots of shock.

“Because there was no blood we were quite relieved.”

Yacht skipper Carl Conder was on the scene shortly after the seaplane crashed. Picture: Supplied

Two Passengers sustained minor seat belt injuries. Picture: Supplied

Mr Conder said the aircraft’s pilot said one of the seaplane rolled over and crashed because one of the aircraft’s wheels didn’t retract.

“When we got the pilot out, he was one of the last out of the water, he actually stopped and took a look at his plane upside down,” he said.

“He said ‘Aw f**k that’s why it crashed’, because one of the wheels didn’t retract, that’s why it’s rolled over.”

Another boat came to assist and transported the passengers to Hamilton Island.

The rescuers attached a rope to the seaplane’s propeller before towing it towards Whitehaven Beach.

The seaplane was towed to Whitehaven Beach. Picture: Supplied

Mr Conder’s crew dragged the seaplane to the shores of Whitehaven Beach where it remained for at least five hours.

“When we left the seaplane, it was still there where we towed it and dumped it,” he said.

“If it was Sydney it would have been swarming, it would have been a circus within about 20-minutes.”

Whitsunday Air Services, also known as Hamilton Island Air, said the plane that crashed was on their first commercial seaplane flight since the pandemic disrupted services but declined to comment further as the incident was under investigation.

The commercial operator offers chartered flights and tours around the world renowned tourist destination.

Two passengers suffered minor seatbelt injuries. Picture: Supplied

An ATSB spokesperson said the cause of the crash was under investigation and said any potential safety issues that emerged would be reported to the relevant parties.

“As reported to the ATSB, during a water landing, the aircraft flipped, and came to rest in the water, inverted,” said the spokesperson.

“The pilot was able to exit the aircraft and assist the passengers to evacuate, and no injuries were reported.”

A Queensland Police spokesman said police were not required to attend while a Queensland Ambulance spokesperson said paramedics treated five passengers at Hamilton Island.

“Five stable patients were assessed on Hamilton Island with two patients sustaining minor seat belt injuries,” said the spokesperson.

“No patients required transport to hospital.”

A Civil Aviation Safety Authority spokesman declined to comment as the crash was under investigation.

Originally published as ‘Aww f**k’: Why seaplane may have crashed