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Sydney seaplane crash: Passenger photos give clues to final moments | Sydney seaplane crash: Passenger photos give clues to final moments |
(35 minutes later) | |
Australian investigators have released the final pictures taken on board a seaplane which plunged into a river last year, killing six people. | Australian investigators have released the final pictures taken on board a seaplane which plunged into a river last year, killing six people. |
Five members of a British family and a Canadian pilot died in the incident north of Sydney on 31 December. | Five members of a British family and a Canadian pilot died in the incident north of Sydney on 31 December. |
Authorities are yet to release their findings on what caused the crash. | Authorities are yet to release their findings on what caused the crash. |
But in an interim report released on Thursday, investigators said photos and witness accounts had helped them to reconstruct the flight's final moments. | But in an interim report released on Thursday, investigators said photos and witness accounts had helped them to reconstruct the flight's final moments. |
The DHC-2 Beaver was on a sightseeing flight when it nose-dived into the Hawkesbury River at Jerusalem Bay, about 50km (30 miles) from the city centre. | The DHC-2 Beaver was on a sightseeing flight when it nose-dived into the Hawkesbury River at Jerusalem Bay, about 50km (30 miles) from the city centre. |
Businessman Richard Cousins, 58, died alongside his 48-year-old fiancée, magazine editor Emma Bowden, her 11-year-old daughter Heather and his sons, Edward, 23, and William, 25, and pilot Gareth Morgan, 44. | Businessman Richard Cousins, 58, died alongside his 48-year-old fiancée, magazine editor Emma Bowden, her 11-year-old daughter Heather and his sons, Edward, 23, and William, 25, and pilot Gareth Morgan, 44. |
Most of the wreckage was recovered by Australian authorities in January. | Most of the wreckage was recovered by Australian authorities in January. |
On Wednesday, the Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) released photos that had been recovered from a camera and a phone on board. | On Wednesday, the Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) released photos that had been recovered from a camera and a phone on board. |
Investigators were able to use images taken by the front seat passenger to recreate the flight path, the ATSB said. | Investigators were able to use images taken by the front seat passenger to recreate the flight path, the ATSB said. |
This was corroborated by the accounts and photos of a witness on the ground. | This was corroborated by the accounts and photos of a witness on the ground. |
ATSB director Nat Nagy said the evidence had allowed investigators "to determine what happened in the lead-up to this accident". | |
The photos had also helped investigators to establish the seating positions of those on board, the report said. | |
Earlier this year, the ATSB said the plane had made a steep right turn before entering the water. Flight operator Sydney Seaplanes described the action as "totally inexplicable". | Earlier this year, the ATSB said the plane had made a steep right turn before entering the water. Flight operator Sydney Seaplanes described the action as "totally inexplicable". |
Investigators said they would further examine Mr Morgan's health and medical history, but he had appeared fine in the days before the crash. | Investigators said they would further examine Mr Morgan's health and medical history, but he had appeared fine in the days before the crash. |
He had more than 10,000 hours of flying experience, including about 9,000 hours on floatplanes. | He had more than 10,000 hours of flying experience, including about 9,000 hours on floatplanes. |
There was no voice or flight data recorder on board. Neither were required by regulations for an aircraft of such size, officials have said. | There was no voice or flight data recorder on board. Neither were required by regulations for an aircraft of such size, officials have said. |
The ATSB will release its final findings and recommendations sometime in the next six months. | The ATSB will release its final findings and recommendations sometime in the next six months. |
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