A pilot who died alongside two overseas tourists when the seaplane he was flying crashed off Rottnest Island near Perth on Tuesday has been identified as James Wong.
In a statement, Swan River Seaplanes director Kristy Bailey said the 34-year-old was a “dedicated pilot”.
“We are heartbroken by the tragic loss of James, a talented and dedicated pilot who was an integral and deeply cherished member of our team,” she said.
“Our hearts and thoughts are with his family, friends, and loved ones during this incredibly difficult time.”
Wong grew up in Sydney, where his parents still reside, and its believed he began working with Swan River Seaplanes last year.
Pilot James Wong.
Bailey said the company’s priority is always their passengers and staff, as she paid tribute to the two tourists who lost their lives in the tragedy.
“We are equally devastated by those injured and the loss of the two passengers on board, and extend our deepest condolences to their families and all who are grieving this unimaginable tragedy,” she said.
Those two victims include a female Swiss tourist aged 65, and a male Danish tourist, 60.
“We are currently assisting and working with all relevant authorities,” Bailey said.
“We have paused our services during this time to focus on supporting our team and reaching out to the families of passengers to offer support”.
Bailey added that Swan River Seaplanes was established in 2017 and had “a 100 per cent safety record until the tragic incident yesterday”.
“In due course we will be able to provide you with more information and notify you about the resumption of our services,” she said.
Wong’s LinkedIn account states he worked for Horizontal Falls Seaplane Adventures out of Broome, and before that was a pilot on Hamilton Island in Queensland.
Footage of the crash, which occurred around 4pm, shows the Swan River Seaplane-run Cessna 208 struggling to take off before swaying and nosediving into the ocean about 600 metres offshore.
Visitors on the West Australian holiday island were in shock after many witnessed the crash and frantic rescue that followed, with several private boats and water police rushing to the scene in the immediate aftermath.
Four survivors were rescued from the water, including a West Australian couple in their 60s, and the partners of the deceased Swiss and Danish nationals; a 63-year-old Swiss man and a 58-year-old Danish woman.
Three of the survivors remain in hospital with serious but non-life threatening injuries, while a fourth person escaped uninjured.
WA Police Commissioner Col Blanch said the victims’ bodies were trapped within the plane wreckage eight metres underwater.
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