By Rebecca Peppiatt and Jesinta Burton
Investigators have retrieved the wreckage of a seaplane that crashed off Rottnest Island on Tuesday, killing three people on board, including the pilot who has been remembered as “a dear friend, brother, son and partner”.
James Wong, 34, was navigating the Swan River Seaplane-run Cessna 208 from Thomson Bay back to Perth with six passengers on board when video footage shows the aircraft swaying during take off before crashing into the ocean.
Pilot James Wong, 34, died on Tuesday when his seaplane crashed off Rottnest Island.Credit: Facebook
Onlookers and holidaymakers rushed to assist but two tourists, a Swiss woman, 65, and a Danish man, 60, were trapped underwater inside the wreckage alongside Wong and died.
On Thursday his girlfriend Angela Cloeraine, also a seaplane pilot, paid tribute as she asked for support for Wong’s Sydney family to help “navigate this treacherous time”.
“On Tuesday the 7th of January 2025 we lost a dear friend, brother, son and partner in a tragic accident,” she wrote.
“He was known for his love for adventure, exceptional knowledge on every topic and his passion for seaplanes – a self-proclaimed ‘seaplane tragic’.
Plane wreckage from the downed Cessna off the coast of Rottnest Island is retrieved by investigators on Thursday.Credit: 9 News Perth
“His trademark skinny jeans and peace signs will never be forgotten.
“The loss of James was sudden, unexpected and devastating.”
Swan River Seaplanes director Dean Kingi also broke his silence on Thursday to publicly acknowledge the passing of his teammate and friend, calling the incident a tragic accident.
“I just want to express my heartfelt gratitude to everyone for all the love, support and caring messages we have received through what has been an absolute tragedy,” he said.
“On the 7th of January we sadly lost our teammate and friend, James. We also lost some of our valued customers in what was a tragic accident. We will do everything we possibly can to support James’ family and Ange as we navigate through this together.”
Kingi and Cloeraine’s words came as Australian Transport Safety Bureau investigators retrieved the wreckage of the plane from the water on Thursday morning.
Chief Commissioner Angus Mitchell said divers entered the water and attached straps to enable the plane to be craned out and onto a boat. The bodies of the victims were removed by divers on Tuesday night.
The Cessna is loaded onto a carrier.Credit: 9 News Perth
“This is obviously quite a delicate operation,” he said.
“One, we want to do as little additional damage to that aircraft as we raise it. But equally, there’s a number of components within the aircraft that we want to get to as quickly as we can, and certainly before they dry out, so we can get them into safekeeping and then get them back to our lab in Canberra.”
Mitchell said divers were also taking care not to damage the surrounding environment as they retrieved the wreckage given the plane had fuels and hydraulic oils on board.
“As it’s being lifted, that plane will then go onto a barge to be taken back to Perth, and it will be subject to further examination from the ATSB and no doubt from police as well,” he said.
Divers secured straps around the plane.Credit: 9 News Perth
Mitchell said they will then start looking inside the plane for items such as mobile phones, as well as any recording devices from the engine.
“We will want to get them out as quickly as we can before they dry out, and then we can start the process of recovering what’s on them,” he said.
Meanwhile, WA Premier Roger Cook has said the state government has not yet received any advice that would suggest a need to suspend seaplane operations off Rottnest Island until the investigation is complete.
“Although, I would observe that is a moot point at the moment because the site at Thomson Bay is being investigated and Swan River Seaplanes has suspended all their services out of respect,” he said.
The plane is recovered from the water.Credit: 9 News Perth
Asked whether the service needed to be cancelled, Cook said: “Look, that may be something that we will consider, but that is not for today, and that’s not for this week, because obviously no planes are taking off or landing in Thomson Bay. The advice will come from the ATSB.”
Cook said that as the former tourism minister he felt there wasn’t enough oversight or supervision of the aviation industry generally, particularly in the state’s remote north.
“It’s a very isolated area,” he said.
“Most of the landing strips are uncontrolled, and obviously, we rely heavily upon the work that the individual companies and the individual pilots do to keep everyone safe. But the safety and regulation of the aviation industry is the federal government’s responsibility.”
Whether there will be a formal coronial inquiry into the incident would be a matter for the Coroner, he said.
“Obviously it’s an issue which has raised significant public concern, obviously it’s an issue of particular public safety, and so I imagine the coroner will consider these things very carefully,” he said.
Of the surviving four passengers on board the doomed seaplane, two women, a West Australian and a Danish national, remain in hospital in a stable condition.
The Danish woman’s partner died in the crash.