Pub baron Justin Hemmes is in talks to buy joy flight company Sydney Seaplanes, less than a year after a horror crash involving one of the company’s aircraft.
The tragic December 31 accident killed all six people on board, including British businessman Richard Cousins and his family.
The multi-millionaire Merivale boss is in talks to take over the troubled company, in a dramatic shift from his usual investments in pubs and hotels.
Pub baron Justin Hemmes (pictured with Kate Fowler) is in talks to buy joy flight company Sydney Seaplanes, less than a year after a horror crash involving one of the company’s aircraft
The tragic December 31 accident killed all six people on board, including British businessman Richard Cousins and his family
Mr Hemmes often uses his own aircraft to travel, but leaves it permanently berthed at the Rose Bay headquarters of the company when it is not in use.
He also has a long-term business relationship with Sydney Seaplanes’ managing director Aaron Shaw.
‘I have put the feelers out and I have been dealing with Aaron for a couple of years now,’ ‘Mr Hemmes told The Daily Telegraph.
‘We use their facility for promoting the berths we have at Newport so we have an interest in the business in that sense, but at this stage it’s just very general chats with nothing too specific being discussed.’
The company has suffered significant financial losses since the New Years Eve crash last year, and was once valued at around $8 million.
A de Havilland Canada DHC-2 Beaver owned by the company crashed into a river at Jerusalem Bay, 25 miles north of Sydney.
Richard Cousins, the 58-year-old chief executive of FTSE 100 company Compass Group, died in the accident
Richard Cousins, the 58-year-old chief executive of FTSE 100 company Compass Group, died alongside his sons, Will and Edward, aged 25 and 23, his fiancee, Emma Bowden, 48, and her 11-year-old daughter Heather.
The experienced pilot, Canadian Gareth Morgan, 44, was also killed, with investigators probing whether he may have become disoriented or incapacitated.
His employer believes the Australian Transport Safety Bureau’s (ATSB) findings will support the theory.
‘The preliminary report reflects the excellent flying conditions on the day and suggests no evidence of airframe, fuel or engine issues,’ Mr Shaw said at the time of the incident.
‘The report also highlights that Gareth Morgan was a highly skilled, experienced and trained pilot who was flying to a location he had flown to hundreds of times before.
Emma Bowden, 48, with her 11-year-old daughter Heather in Sydney, days before the pair died in the crash
‘A turn of this nature at low altitude by a pilot with Gareth’s skills, experience and intimate knowledge of the location is totally inexplicable.’
‘We’re hopeful that once the report comes out that (business) will return to a healthier level, but obviously it was a terrible tragedy and something that we think about every single day,’ Mr Shaw said.
Mr Shaw started the joy-ride business in 2007, and confirmed he has been in preliminary talks with Mr Hemmes.
He noted a formal offer was yet to be made.
‘Like any small business owner if you got the right offer then you would obviously seriously consider taking it,’ he said.
Mr Cousins’ sons Edward, 23 (left) and William, 25 (right) were also killed when their seaplane plunged into the Hawkesbury River