Seaplane crash kills six in Sydney

The aircraft crashed into a river in Australia, police say, with the cause of the accident still under investigation.

A seaplane makes a low pass over the Sydney Harbour Bridge as climbers enjoy the view from the top arch more than 130 metres above Sydney's Harbour. April 26, 2005. (File photo)
AP

A seaplane makes a low pass over the Sydney Harbour Bridge as climbers enjoy the view from the top arch more than 130 metres above Sydney's Harbour. April 26, 2005. (File photo)

At least six people have been killed after a "wine and dine" sightseeing seaplane crashed into a river in Sydney, police confirmed on Sunday.

The plane went down in the Hawkesbury River near the suburb of Cowan 50 kilometres (31 miles) north of Sydney, said police in New South Wales state.

Police said they did not immediately know the cause of the crash, nor the identities of the five passengers, but were speaking with several witnesses who were in boats on of the waterways' busiest days of the year. The pilot was the sixth victim.

"We have spoken to a number of witnesses," Police inspector Michael Gorman told reporters, adding that forensic police would inspect the plane to assess when it could be raised from the seabed. "It's too early in the investigation so we don't know why the plane crashed."

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Gorman told reporters the single-engine aircraft was lying in 13 metres (43 feet) of water. 

"Police divers are on scene and three bodies have so far been recovered," police added in a statement. "The recovery operation continues."

The aircraft was operated by Sydney Seaplanes, a major tourism operator in the city.

A spokesman for the Australian Transport Safety Bureau told AFP the aircraft was believed to be a DHC-2 Beaver Seaplane on a return flight to Rose Bay in Sydney Harbour.

The accident came just hours before Sydney Harbour lit up in a spectacular fireworks display to welcome in the new year.

Sydney Seaplanes has been operating since 1938, originally flying from Australia to Britain, a journey that required thirty refuelling stops along what became famous as the "Kangaroo" route.

Route 6