Sydney Sea Planes will resume flying on Monday, two weeks after one of its planes crashed killing everyone on board.
A British family-of-five were all tragically killed when the seaplane crashed into the Hawksbury River, north of Sydney on New Years Eve.
Experienced pilot Gareth Morgan, 44, was also killed.
The company grounded its fleet following the crash but is expected to take flight again on Monday.
Emma Bowden, 48, and her daughter Heather, 11, died in a horror seaplane crash in the Hawkesbury River, north of Sydney, on New Year’s Eve
Investigations into the crash continue with the Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) interviewing witnesses and examining recorded data from on-board the flight.
Millionaire CEO Richard Cousins was on-board the plane with his two sons, Edward, 23, and William, 25, fiancee Emma Bowden and her 11-year-old daughter Heather when it plunged into the river.
The chief executive of British catering giant Compass, Mr Cousins was due to retire in March having spent the past 11 years at the helm and transforming a business on its knees to turning a £1.6billion annual profit.
It is believed he was in Australia on a family holiday to celebrate the New Year with his family when they died.
Richard Cousins (right) – a millionaire CEO in charge of British catering company Compass – was on board the plane with his fiancee, her daughter and his two sons
Mr Cousins’ sons Edward, 23 (left) and William, 25 (right) were also killed when their seaplane plunged into the Hawkesbury River
It’s believed Ms Bowden (left) and her daughter (right) were travelling with Mr Cousins and his sons on a festive family holiday
One of the six to be named as dead is experienced 44-year-old Australian pilot Gareth Morgan (pictured)
Mr Morgan (pictured), who was one of the six to be killed on Sunday, has been described a ‘very experienced pilot’
The body of a passenger recovered from the downed seaplane that crashed on Sunday killing six people is carried by police and paramedics
When he announced in September that he planned to retire in March, the company’s share price plummeted.
Mr Cousins was named at No 11 on last year’s 100 Best Performing CEOs in the World by Harvard Business Review.
The 58-year-old had also served on the board of supermarket giant Tesco, but resigned last year in protest at plans to buy wholesaler Booker.
Police said the wreckage of the aircraft, operated by Sydney Seaplanes, was eventually found on the bottom of Cowan Creek under 42ft of water with the bodies inside.
Witness Myles Baptiste said he saw the plane crash. He told 9News: ‘It made a tight right-hand turn and as it actually turned around, the wings dipped and it nosedived straight into the water.’
A police spokesman said: ‘For reasons that are not known at this stage, the plane has hit the water and it has subsequently sunk.
‘At the time of the collision, there was a pilot and five passengers on board. I can confirm the six people on the plane are deceased.’
The plane crashed while flying a party of five from Cottage Point to Rose Bay on Sydney Harbour ahead of the New Year’s Eve fireworks display.
The six people including five Britons killed in a seaplane crash north of Sydney have been named; pictured is one of the bodies being removed by police and paramedics
New South Wales Police and investigators from the Australian Transport Safety Bureau pictured on a police launch at the site where a seaplane crashed on New Year’s Eve
A New South Wales policewoman is seen holding a piece of debris from the seaplane which crashed in the Hawkesbury River
Five Britons, including an 11-year-old girl, were on board the Sydney Seaplanes Cessna aircraft when it came down. Pictured are police officers gathering evidence at the scene
The passengers are believed to have been enjoying a ‘wine and dine’ sightseeing tour and were flying from Cottage Point to Rose Bay in Sydney Harbour when the plane came down around 3pm local time
The remains of all six victims have now been taken from the water and emergency services are now working to retrieve the plane from 42ft below the surface
An officer carries a piece of debris recovered from a seaplane that crashed into the Hawkesbury River
Sydney Seaplanes managing director Aaron Shaw confirmed that the aircraft was one of theirs and said they were working with police on the scene.
He said: ‘All at Sydney Seaplanes are deeply shocked by this incident and the resulting loss of life.
‘We wish to pass on our heartfelt condolences to the family and friends of the passengers and pilot who were tragically killed. We do not yet know the cause of the accident.
‘We are dedicating our full resources in assisting the NSW Police, the Australian Transport Safety Board, Civil Aviation Safety Authority and other relevant authorities to understand the cause of the accident.’
He added: ‘Sydney Seaplanes has been operating since 2005, have undertaken thousands of flights in that period and have had an unblemished safety record until now.
‘The safety of our passengers and staff is our absolute primary and highest priority.
‘Our aircraft are professionally maintained to manufacturer’s specifications and our seaplane pilots are some of the most experienced in the world.’
A Sydney Seaplanes pilot took to Facebook to write: ‘Thoughts are with the guys from Sydney Seaplanes this afternoon, hope they are all well and things have a positive outcome. Top bunch of guys working there.’
Sydney Seaplanes managing director Aaron Shaw confirmed that the aircraft was one of theirs
Flight radar reveals the moment that the plane lost contact while flying in the Sydney area