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Sydney seaplane crash: Operation to raise wreckage begins Sydney seaplane crash: Wreckage raised from riverbed
(about 5 hours later)
Australian authorities have begun recovering the wreckage of a seaplane that crashed near Sydney, killing six people. Australian authorities have recovered most of a seaplane that crashed near Sydney and killed six people.
On Sunday, high-profile UK business leader Richard Cousins, four members of his family and a Canadian pilot died when the plane plunged into a river.On Sunday, high-profile UK business leader Richard Cousins, four members of his family and a Canadian pilot died when the plane plunged into a river.
The plane was being lifted from about 13m (40ft) below the water on Thursday. After days of planning, police used divers and a crane to lift the wreckage in sections from a depth of 13m (40ft).
It has also emerged that a plane with the same serial number was involved in a fatal crash in 1996. Officials said a crash involving the same plane in 1996 would form part of their wide-ranging investigation.
On Thursday, local news broadcasts showed the De Havilland DHC-2 Beaver being retrieved from the Hawkesbury River, about 50km (30 miles) north of Sydney. On Thursday, the majority of the De Havilland DHC-2 Beaver - including its fuselage, floats and a wing - was retrieved from the River Hawkesbury about 50km (30 miles) north of Sydney.
The crash killed Compass Group chief executive Mr Cousins, 58, his 48-year-old fiancée, magazine editor Emma Bowden, her 11-year-old daughter Heather, his sons, Edward, 23, and William, 25, and Sydney-based pilot Gareth Morgan, 44.The crash killed Compass Group chief executive Mr Cousins, 58, his 48-year-old fiancée, magazine editor Emma Bowden, her 11-year-old daughter Heather, his sons, Edward, 23, and William, 25, and Sydney-based pilot Gareth Morgan, 44.
The family, from Tooting, in south-west London, were flying back to Sydney from an exclusive waterfront restaurant in Jerusalem Bay, not far from the crash site.The family, from Tooting, in south-west London, were flying back to Sydney from an exclusive waterfront restaurant in Jerusalem Bay, not far from the crash site.
The businessman's brothers, Simon and Andrew Cousins, said on Thursday: "We are fortunate and thankful for the outpouring of love and support we've received from across the world."The businessman's brothers, Simon and Andrew Cousins, said on Thursday: "We are fortunate and thankful for the outpouring of love and support we've received from across the world."
"We are deeply touched by the tributes to Richard, William, Edward, Emma and Heather in the media and throughout the community.""We are deeply touched by the tributes to Richard, William, Edward, Emma and Heather in the media and throughout the community."
The recovery operation began at 06:00 local time (19:00 GMT Wednesday) and was expected to last until the afternoon. The recovery effort, which began at 06:00 local time (19:00 GMT Wednesday), continued late into the day.
Police described it as a complex operation, with divers attaching slings to the wreckage amid "zero visibility".
What happened in 1996?What happened in 1996?
According to a report in the Sydney Morning Herald, the same plane was involved in an accident that killed a pilot 22 years ago.According to a report in the Sydney Morning Herald, the same plane was involved in an accident that killed a pilot 22 years ago.
Its wingtip had struck a hill amid gusty conditions "conducive to windshear and turbulence" in rural New South Wales, according to an Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) report.Its wingtip had struck a hill amid gusty conditions "conducive to windshear and turbulence" in rural New South Wales, according to an Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) report.
Investigators said the aircraft was climbing at almost maximum weight when it clipped the ground, sending it into a cartwheel.Investigators said the aircraft was climbing at almost maximum weight when it clipped the ground, sending it into a cartwheel.
The plane was then repaired and cleared to fly again under official safety requirements, the Civil Aviation and Safety Authority told the BBC.The plane was then repaired and cleared to fly again under official safety requirements, the Civil Aviation and Safety Authority told the BBC.
It had since flown thousands of trips as a sightseeing plane until the crash on New Year's Eve.It had since flown thousands of trips as a sightseeing plane until the crash on New Year's Eve.
ATSB executive director Nat Nagy said a "number of factors" were involved in the 1996 crash but it would be examined as part of a thorough investigation into the plane's history.
Seaplanes Pilots Association vice-president Kevin Bowe told the Sydney Morning Herald that crashed planes were rebuilt to a condition that was "often better than new".Seaplanes Pilots Association vice-president Kevin Bowe told the Sydney Morning Herald that crashed planes were rebuilt to a condition that was "often better than new".
How long will the current investigation take?How long will the current investigation take?
ATSB investigators have said they will release a preliminary report in about 30 days.ATSB investigators have said they will release a preliminary report in about 30 days.
"The full sequence of events leading up to the accident is not fully understood at this stage," said ATSB executive director Nat Nagy on Tuesday. "The full sequence of events leading up to the accident is not fully understood at this stage," Mr Nagy said on Tuesday.
He said investigators would rigorously examine the wreckage, gather witness accounts, and examine the pilot's flying history, in an effort to learn what happened. Investigators, he added, would rigorously examine the wreckage, gather witness accounts and examine the pilot's flying history, in an effort to learn what happened.