Rottnest Island seaplane crash: Police forensics officers investigate wreckage as tourists continue to arrive

Forensic officers have arrived on Rottnest Island to comb through evidence in the wake of a tragic seaplane crash.

Pilot James Wong, 34, a 65-year-old woman who was a Swiss tourist, and a 60-year-old male Danish tourist died in the crash, which occurred about 4pm on Tuesday in Thomson Bay.

Four passengers survived, with three seriously injured.

People continued to flock to the holiday hot spot on Wednesday, with ferries packed with visitors as usual.

Others remained on the island to finish their holidays despite witnessing the crash.

Perth couple Rex Walker and Vivienne Bentley-Walker arrived for a half-day trip on Wednesday, having heard about the crash on the news the evening before.

“We thought they may have stopped the ferries and we wouldn’t be able to come over,” Ms Bentley-Walker said.

“We were shocked. We never thought about cancelling our trip, but we were very concerned about what happened.

“It is absolutely tragic but life has to go on.”

Ms Bentley-Walker said give Mr Wong was local, she was feeling for the local staff that new him on the island and on the ferries, as well as for the families.

Mum-of-two Rikki Chapman was with her family on a boat just 200m from the crash.

Ms Chapman described the winds as “brutal” and said she was shocked the aircraft tried to take off.

“The plane was going from left to right as it was trying to take off. I was very surprised they were trying to fly in that wind,” she said.

“We lost sight for about three minutes. It all happened very quickly.

“Three boats raced off and we went upstairs and could see the plane had nosedived.”

Ms Chapman said as she watched on she was hoping there weren’t many people on board.

“It gives me goosebumps,” she said.

“We saw all the emergency services come.”

Ian Minchin was on the mooring in front of the jetty and was about to take his kids for a game of putt putt golf when he heard the plane take off and then saw the aftermath of the crash.

He saw one woman walk off a boat to an ambulance on the shore, with her arm in her sling.

“She had her kneecaps slashed and cuts on her face, and was obviously in deep shock,” Mr Minchin said.

He then saw another ambulance race down and bring another woman, who was lying down, around the back of the vehicle.

“The search-and-rescue team worked late into the night, taking the wreckage in and moving it off the concrete ramp,” he said.

“The wreckage of the plane went from south of Phillip Rock to pretty far north.

“It was that windy that I said to the kids, ‘He must be a good pilot taking off in this wind’.

“It was 2m to 2.5m seas and the wind was absolutely howling.”

Holidaymakers on Rottnest were shocked and saddened at news of the three deaths.

Claire Smith is on a week-long visit with family.

“Last night we were at Sunset Bar and my nephew went past and said, ‘There’s been an incident at the jetty’. And so we call came out to have a look,” she said.

“You could see the tail up in the air and the helicopters were going all night.

“The sunset was beautiful, so it was sad to know that was happening at the same time.

“We were really anxious for those three people that weren’t found and it’s terrible to find out they didn’t make it.

“But it’s a miracle that four people survived, especially the person that was able to walk away.

“It’s devastating about the other three and it has made us as a family think of how lucky we are.”

Lowri and Natalia are on a working holiday from the UK and arrived on Rottnest for a day trip on Wednesday.

Lowri said she was Googling Rottnest Island on Tuesday night and the crash was the first thing that came up.

“I thought it was news from a while ago, but to hear that three people have just lost their lives is awful,” she said.

Natalia said the island was one of their top destinations for their time in Perth.

“Lots of people have told us to come here,” she said.