Two tourists who died when a seaplane crashed into the ocean have been identified as investigators begin a months-long investigation into the cause.
Danish man Torben Poulsen, 60, and Swiss woman Danielle Grundbacher-Mosching, 65, were killed along with Australian pilot James Wong, 34, in the crash on Rottnest Island, off the coast of Perth, at 4pm on Tuesday.
Mr Poulsen and Ms Grundbacher-Mosching were both on holiday in Western Australia with their partners, who were also on board the plane and survived the crash.
The Australian Safety and Transport Bureau has begun recovering and examining pieces of the Cessna 208 Caravan 675 as it begins its investigation.
Researchers have confirmed that their investigation will take months at the very least.
Agency officials are currently working to locate the plane’s recording equipment, including flight tracking data and engine performance data.
Once investigators have completed their on-site recovery and investigation process, the aircraft wreckage will be taken to a facility in Perth for further inspection.
“During this time, investigators will identify and secure all relevant components for further analysis at the ATSB’s laboratory facilities in Canberra,” said Bureau Chief Commissioner Angus Mitchell.
Authorities have confirmed their investigation into a fatal seaplane crash will take months
Australian man James Wong, 34, (pictured) Danish man Torben Poulsen, 60, and Swiss woman Danielle Grundbacher-Mosching, 65, were killed off the coast of Perth at 4pm on Tuesday.
‘We are also continuing to seek witness statements, particularly from anyone who may have images of the aircraft at any stage of the accident, or in its immediate aftermath.’
The wreckage is currently visible to the naked eye and still lies on the seabed, eight meters below the surface.
Mr. Mitchell said if his officers find one In case of critical seaplane safety issues, relevant stakeholders will be notified immediately.
He added that the investigation will take months as investigators must scour the area for footage of the crash and conduct a complex investigation into the plane crash. history and maintenance.
“There’s a whole bunch of things we need to put together to give us a better idea of the flight sequence and what went wrong next,” Mitchell said.
“That will take us time to go through all the evidence.”
Just gathering evidence could take weeks, Mitchell warned.
‘We need to get these things in order if we want to make recommendations that have far-reaching consequences.’
Police divers recovered the victim’s bodies from the wreckage, which is eight meters below the surface
The agency’s current estimates put the timeline at two months before a preliminary report will be available.
Survivors managed to flee the wreckage on Tuesday afternoon, while police divers recovered the bodies of the three victims later that evening.
A 63-year-old Swiss man, a 63-year-old Western Australian man, a 65-year-old Western Australian woman and a 58-year-old Danish woman escaped the crash with various injuries.
The tourists’ identification comes after the Perth pilot’s grieving partner, Mr Wong, opened up about his “sudden, unexpected and devastating” death.
Mr Wong’s partner and colleague, Angela Cloeraine, broke her silence on Thursday to pay tribute.
“He was known for his love of adventure, exceptional knowledge on any subject and his passion for seaplanes – a self-described ‘seaplane tragic’,” she wrote on one GoFundMe page she set up to support his family.