A SEAIR SEAPLANES DeHavilland Beaver Floatplane crashed into Lyall Harbour yesterday afternoon, moments after takeoff from Saturna Island, B.C., Canada, yesterday afternoon. Authorities report that 6 of the 8 people onboard, including 1 infant, were killed in the crash. The DHC2 was on Domestic Service from Pender Island to Vancouver Airport South Terminal, with a stop at Saturna Island. The aircraft departed Saturna Island at 4:00pm, with 7 passengers and 1 Pilot onboard, for the 20 minute flight to the Vancouver Airport. Several witnesses said the plane appeared to be having difficulty taking off. “The Pilot made a couple of attempts to get up off the water,” he said. “It was the 3rd attempt when he managed to get it into the air.” The plane didn’t stay too long in the air when it suddenly nosedived into the water. “Something must have happened because the plane went down pretty quick,” the witness told Vancouver media. Another witness said that the plane made a loud noise like a muffler backfiring and nosedived into the water, at about 4:10pm. Witnesses called 911 and the Coast Guard, while others at a nearby Pub, jumped into their boat to reach the scene. When they left the pub, the tail could still be seen above water, however by the time they reached the area where the Beaver went in, it had become completely submerged. Rescuers were able to pluck a female passenger and the Pilot from the waters. Both are hospitalized, with the Pilot in serious condition. Coast Guard officials retrieved the bodies of the 6 passengers killed overnight. Officials on scene would only say that the doors were open on the aircraft, and the the wreckage of the DeHavilland was "twisted". The Canadian Transportation Safety Board has launched an investigation into the crash. It is believed that the CTSB will attempt to have the aircraft pulled from the waters.
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