A British family-of-five who were tragically killed when their seaplane crashed into a river north of Sydney on New Year’s Eve have all been identified.
Millionaire CEO Richard Cousins was on-board the plane with his two sons, fiancee Emma Bowden and her 11-year-old daughter Heather when it plunged into the Hawkesbury River, north of Sydney, about 3.15pm on Sunday.
Mr Cousins’ two sons Edward, 23, and William, 25, were also both killed in the accident, as was experienced pilot Gareth Morgan, 44.
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.
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
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 left and right)
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 would be retiring 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.
Paul Walsh, Compass chairman, said: ‘We are deeply shocked and saddened by this terrible news.
‘The thoughts of everyone at Compass are with Richard’s family and friends, and we extend our deepest sympathies to them.
‘It has been a great privilege to know Richard personally and to work with him for the last few years.
‘Richard was known and respected for his great humanity and a no-nonsense style that transformed Compass into one of Britain’s leading companies.’
Six people were killed after the tourist plane crashed into a river near Sydney on Sunday afternoon. Pictured is a plane believed to be the doomed aircraft spotted moments before it crashed
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
A brave holidaymaker told how he desperately tried to open the door of the sinking sea plane but it went down too quickly.
Todd Sellars said he was on a houseboat just 50m away when the aircraft went into the water on Sunday.
‘I was with friends on the houseboat when the plane just nosedived into the water,’ Mr Sellars told ABC Radio.
‘I jumped into the water and tried to open the door,’ he
‘I just thought it was coming in low doing a flyby, but when we look out on the corner it just nosedived.
Mr Sellars told how and friends swam to try and rescue the passengers, but the aircraft sank too quickly.
‘I ran my hands down through the windows but I couldn’t open the door – it was sinking too fast,’ he said.
‘The plane was pretty long so it was probably three or four metres under the water by the time we got down to the door.’
Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull offered his condolences to the families of those killed in the crash.
‘It is a tragic accident and… our hearts go out to the families of those whose lives were lost,’ Mr Turnbull said in Bondi on Monday.
‘We don’t know yet what caused it, but it’s just a tragedy. We grieve for those who lost their lives.’
Police are now working on the logistics of refloating the wreckage.
The plane will need to be brought back to the surface before forensic air-crash investigators can piece together what went wrong.
One theory is that the seaplane’s pilot was trying to make an emergency landing.
Witnesses enjoying New Year’s Eve in boats on the river said they saw the aircraft make a sharp turn before nosediving into the water. One witness said it appeared a wing hit the water first.
Video taken from a nearby boat shows what is believed to be the doomed aircraft just moments before it plunged into the Hawkesbury River around 3pm local time.
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
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.
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.’
Emergency services were called to Cowan Creek on Sunday with reports of a light plane crash
Sydney Seaplanes managing director Aaron Shaw confirmed that the aircraft was one of theirs
Westpac Life Saver Rescue Helicopters tweeted an update just after the crash around 3.15pm
Divers are pictured searching Cowan Creek near Jerusalem Bay on the Hawkesbury River east of Cowan
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.’
The company has suspended all operations until further notice, Mr Shaw said.
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.’
For $534AUD (£309) per person, the company’s website boats that guests will ‘indulge in an exceptional three-course lunch before flying over the magnificent icons of the Opera House and the Harbour Bridge.’
Debris and oil slick were found on the surface of Cowan Creek where the plane crashed
A large search and rescue operation was underway to locate the plane which was submerged
The group had enjoyed the same four-hour tour package enjoyed by Pippa Middleton in May during her honeymoon with husband James Matthews
The Australian Transport Safety Bureau sent three vehicles to investigate the incident and Daily Mail Australia has reached out to them for more information.
In a statement, the ATSB said investigators were en route from Canberra to the crash site to investigate ‘the ditching of a single-engine seaplane’.
The bureau is expected to release a preliminary report in just under a month, according to The Australian.
The route the seaplane took is a popular choice for tourists who want to experience Sydney’s beauty from the air.
Those who have enjoyed the same flight include Kate Middleton’s sister Pippa and popular TV host Jeremy Clarkson.
Other A-listers to take to the skies over scenic New South Wales with the company Sydney Seaplanes include Ed Sheeran, Jerry Seinfeld and Bill Gates.
Oscar-winning actor Cuba Gooding Jr. chose the sea planes to travel around Sydney earlier this month to film commercials for a phone company.
Flight radar reveals the moment that the plane lost contact while flying in the Sydney area