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| Version 2 | Version 3 |
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| Three missing after private plane crashes off Rottnest Island in WA | Three missing after private plane crashes off Rottnest Island in WA |
| (32 minutes later) | |
| Four pulled from the water – three with serious injuries – but the search goes on for three other people on board | |
| Four people have been pulled from the water – but three are still missing – after a privately owned plane crashed into the sea off Western Australia’s popular tourist site Rottnest Island. | Four people have been pulled from the water – but three are still missing – after a privately owned plane crashed into the sea off Western Australia’s popular tourist site Rottnest Island. |
| Rescue efforts – led by police and emergency services crews, but also involving civilian vessels - was still under way on Tuesday evening. | Rescue efforts – led by police and emergency services crews, but also involving civilian vessels - was still under way on Tuesday evening. |
| Police confirmed the seaplane was carrying seven people, including the pilot. Three people were pulled from the water suffering serious injuries, a fourth was rescued uninjured. | Police confirmed the seaplane was carrying seven people, including the pilot. Three people were pulled from the water suffering serious injuries, a fourth was rescued uninjured. |
| But three people remained missing, several hours after the plane went down at 4pm local time. | But three people remained missing, several hours after the plane went down at 4pm local time. |
| The sea-plane crashed near Rottnest’s main swimming area prompting a rescue operation involving water police and civilian vessels. | The sea-plane crashed near Rottnest’s main swimming area prompting a rescue operation involving water police and civilian vessels. |
| “It appears the plane has hit Phillip Rock at the entrance to Thomson Bay,” WA police commissioner Col Blanch said on Tuesday evening. | “It appears the plane has hit Phillip Rock at the entrance to Thomson Bay,” WA police commissioner Col Blanch said on Tuesday evening. |
| “Water police and a number of civilian vessels provided immediate aid in an attempt to assist in the rescue. This is very much an unfolding incident, and we are working to ascertain the details.” | “Water police and a number of civilian vessels provided immediate aid in an attempt to assist in the rescue. This is very much an unfolding incident, and we are working to ascertain the details.” |
| Blanch said police had deployed “significant resources” to the scene but details of the crash remained uncertain. | Blanch said police had deployed “significant resources” to the scene but details of the crash remained uncertain. |
| “There have been a number of members of the public who did not hesitate to assist and I thank them for their efforts.” | “There have been a number of members of the public who did not hesitate to assist and I thank them for their efforts.” |
| Greg Quin told ABC radio in Perth the plane crashed moments after taking off from the bay, reaching only about three metres above the water before suddenly descending. | Greg Quin told ABC radio in Perth the plane crashed moments after taking off from the bay, reaching only about three metres above the water before suddenly descending. |
| “We were watching the sea plane take off and just as it was beginning to get off the water, it just tipped over and it crashed,” he said. | “We were watching the sea plane take off and just as it was beginning to get off the water, it just tipped over and it crashed,” he said. |
| “A lot of people in the water on their boats rushed to the scene and I think got there really, really quickly which was just amazing. | “A lot of people in the water on their boats rushed to the scene and I think got there really, really quickly which was just amazing. |
| “But it very quickly got caught up in the wind and the current and began drifting [it] away.” | “But it very quickly got caught up in the wind and the current and began drifting [it] away.” |
| Rottnest Island, also known as Wadjemup, is located about 20 kilometres off the coast from the WA capital, Perth. | Rottnest Island, also known as Wadjemup, is located about 20 kilometres off the coast from the WA capital, Perth. |
| The island is a popular holiday spot in the summer months, attracting thousands of visitors. | The island is a popular holiday spot in the summer months, attracting thousands of visitors. |
| The island, which is also home to the world-famous marsupial quokkas, has a small airport and various companies offer flights to and from the mainland. | The island, which is also home to the world-famous marsupial quokkas, has a small airport and various companies offer flights to and from the mainland. |
| WA premier Roger Cook said “the images we are seeing of an emergency unfolding off Rottnest Island are deeply concerning”. | WA premier Roger Cook said “the images we are seeing of an emergency unfolding off Rottnest Island are deeply concerning”. |
| “My thoughts are with all those affected, and I want to thank our first responders who are attending to the crash site.” | “My thoughts are with all those affected, and I want to thank our first responders who are attending to the crash site.” |
| Cook said he had been briefed on the unfolding situation and would provide updates as more information became available. | Cook said he had been briefed on the unfolding situation and would provide updates as more information became available. |
| With Australian Associated Press. | With Australian Associated Press. |