Australia: Dramatic tourist flight: a Swiss woman loses her life off the coast of Perth

Three people, including a 65-year-old Swiss woman, lost their lives in the crash of a seaplane carrying tourists in the Australian state of Western Australia. The accident happened on Tuesday afternoon while taking off from Rottnest Island, off the coast of Perth.

In addition to the Swiss woman, a 60-year-old Dane and the 34-year-old pilot also died, Western Australia Prime Minister Roger Cook said on Wednesday. Four occupants survived the plane’s fall into the sea, including a Swiss and a Danish woman. Three of them are seriously injured.

Questioned by Keystone-ATS, the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs (FDFA) confirmed the death of the Swiss woman. The second Swiss national, slightly injured, was hospitalized but has since been able to leave the hospital. The Swiss representation in Sydney takes care of him within the framework of consular protection and is in contact with the local authorities.

Three of the plane’s seven occupants were initially reported missing. They were found lifeless during the night from Tuesday to Wednesday by police divers, after hours of searching. The cause of the accident is not yet known.

According to the Australian news agency AAP, the accident plane, a Cessna 208 Caravan, had recently been purchased by the operator Swan River Seaplanes in order to offer tourist flights over Perth and Rottnest Island, a vacation destination popular with tourists from all over the world.