Plane crashes in Perth’s Swan River ahead of Australia Day festivities

The victims of the Australia Day seaplane tragedy in Perth have been named as a father of three and his girlfriend | VIDEO

A seaplane crashes into the Swan River in Perth. Picture: Michael Legg

UPDATE: The pilot in the Australia Day seaplane tragedy in Perth’s Swan River has been named as mining engineer Peter Lynch, a senior executive of Andrew Forrest’s Fortescue Metals Group who worked for Clive Palmer before moving to Perth from Queensland last year.

Mr Lynch, a 52-year-old father of three, was an experienced pilot with a special interest in antique planes. He was killed shortly after 5pm yesterday when his plane, a 69-year-old Grumman, hit the water and split on impact.

Police have told reporters that Mr Lynch’s partner, 30-year-old Endah Cakrawati, originally from Indonesia, died alongside him in the crash.

Peter Lynch and his partner Endah Cakrawati.

The plane was performing in the City of Perth’s Skyworks aerial show for thousands of families that lined the banks of the river to watch. Fireworks due to begin after the air show were cancelled.

On Facebook overnight, Laura Lynch posted: “With great difficulty I am unbearably saddened to confirm that my great friend and the father of my children passed after a tragic accident on the Swan River in Perth yesterday”.

In a statement sent to staff this morning, Fortescue Metals Group boss Nev Power said Mr Lynch would be “deeply missed”. “Peter joined Fortescue in 2016 and had already made his mark as a true Fortescue team member. He took on challenges with enthusiasm and a deep larrikin spirit that shone through, whatever the situation.”

#Plane crashes into the Swan River. Horrible sight. Filmed by Mark Annett-Stuart. #AustraliaDay #Perth pic.twitter.com/MPI5wRSxeO

— Jorden Teo (@JordenTeo) January 26, 2017

Earlier report: Onlookers watch horror crash

A seaplane has crashed into Perth’s Swan River, killing two people in front of thousands of horrified onlookers preparing to take in Australia Day festivities.

The incident happened just after 5pm local time (8pm AEDT) on Thursday.

Police said in a statement that two people had died in the plane crash. “It is believed the two people were the only occupants of the plane,” police said.

“Out of respect to the deceased and their families City of Perth has cancelled the Skyworks. People are asked to start leaving the city area and those that were planning to come into the city are asked to stay away.”

WA Police acting commissioner Stephen Brown told reporters it was fortunate the plane didn’t hit other people.

“For reasons yet unknown, it’s entered the waterway, thankfully without injuring anyone else on the ground or any other people who are here at the event,” he said.

Late last night WA Police confirmed the deceased were a man and a woman and that the aircraft that crashed is a Grumman G-73 “Mallard” flying boat, twin-engined amphibious planes manufactured between 1946 and 1951.

“The aircraft will not be removed from the water tonight. It will be reassessed tomorrow following consultation with Department of Transport and the Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB),” a police spokeswoman said.

Water Police were maintaining a scene guard overnight.

UPDATE: There are reports the plane is now floating upside down in the river with no word on any casualties. MORE: https://t.co/xVUC7eO7LE pic.twitter.com/zGZmr9F66T

— Sky News Australia (@SkyNewsAust) January 26, 2017

@7NewsPerth Seaplane crash on Swan River pic.twitter.com/MZH37H6yb7

— Meaghan Hill (@mimi1596) January 26, 2017

Families gathered by the river to watch festivities on the water watched as the plane flew low in a semi circle before crashing in the water.

The City of Perth issued a statement just after 6pm confirming Skyworks had been cancelled due to the incident.

The display, which attracts massive crowds each year, had been due to start at 8pm.

The Australian has been told the plane that crashed was a VH-CQA Gumman that was part of Australia Day entertainment on the river. It left from Serpentine, south of Perth, and was demonstrating as part of the City of Perth’s Australia Day Air Show.

Amateur footage showed a huge spray of water as the plane hit, apparently splitting on impact.

The woman shooting the footage cried out: “It crashed ... the seaplane, the big one.”

On Twitter tonight, Perth man Richard Enigan claimed he saw the crash and the plane split in half.

Others said they had heard a boom.

An ambulance was waiting at the edge of the river on Plain Street as the water police boat was seen at the scene as the rescue operation unfolded.

Perth Lord Mayor Lisa Scaffidi said the fireworks were cancelled out of respect for the dead and to “conserve the integrity of the (crash) site”. More than 300,000 people were expected to attend the Skyworks show. However Mr Brown urged those gathered to head home.

Extra public transport services would be organised to help them on their way, he said.

Witness Craig Newill was with his family when the plane went down. “We were so stunned and shocked,” he said. “We could see him stall.

“His wings were pointing to the sky and to the water and we thought ‘this is not good’ then we saw it break into two pieces.”

Rescue crews and onlookers rush to the scene. Picture: Daniel Wilkins

Michael Legg was at the river’s edge watching the boats while waiting for his children to finish on nearby showrides when he saw the seaplane and took his phone out of his pocket. He captured a photograph of the plane just before impact.

“You could hear it was in trouble I could hear the motor surging and then you could hear him putting it back into full thrust and then next minute the wing hit the water and then the back end went straight up and the front end went straight down. My heart completely sank.”