Three people lost their lives in a sad crash of a seaplane off Western Australia on Tuesday. Among them were two European tourists and a local pilot. The plane, having carried tourists from Switzerland, Denmark, and Australia, crashed shortly after departing from Rottnest Island, a much-frequented destination because of its quokkas. Authorities confirmed the death of a 65-year-old Swiss woman, a 60-year-old Danish man, and a 34-year-old Australian pilot.
Watch the video of the crash:
A seaplane crashed off an Australian tourist island, killing 3 and injuring 3 others, the Washington Post reports pic.twitter.com/lkG424Dyfs
— Sahil Kapare (@sahildkapare) January 8, 2025
Survivors include a 63-year-old Swiss man, a 58-year-old Danish woman, and an Australian couple in their 60s. State Premier Roger Cook said: “It’s a tragedy. It’s seen by many tourists who were here on holidays, families with children.” The cause of the crash is not yet known, although early reports said the plane may have clipped a rock during takeoff.
Rottnest Island is one of the top destinations in Western Australia, located around 30 km west of Perth.