Rescue services have partially recovered a seaplane that crashed near Sydney on New Year’s Eve, killing all passengers on board, including five Britons.



The Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) confirmed it was investigating reports that the plane had been rebuilt after it was “destroyed” in a fatal incident in the 1990s.

British businessman Richard Cousins, 58, his sons Edward, 23, and Will, 25, his fiancee, Emma Bowden, 48, and her daughter Heather, 11, were killed when the plane nosedived into the Hawkesbury river 25 miles north of Sydney at about 3.10pm (0410 GMT) on New Year’s Eve. The Australian pilot, Gareth Morgan, 44, also died.

Relatives of the victims have travelled to Australia and in a statement said they were “fortunate and thankful for the outpouring of love and support we’ve received from across the world”.

Wreckage from the De Havilland DHC-2 Beaver was lifted out of the Hawkesbury river by a crane barge on Thursday, five days after the tourist flight crashed. The aircraft was recovered from under 13 metres of water at Jerusalem Bay.



The aircraft, which was first registered in 1964, was used as an agricultural plane in Australia prior to its life as a seaplane, according to Fairfax Media. The Sydney Morning Herald reported that the plane had crashed in Armidale, killing the pilot and “destroying” the aircraft. The aircraft was fully rebuilt and recertified following the incident and flew thousands of trips for tourist operator Sydney Seaplanes, it is understood.

At a press conference following the recovery of the seaplane the executive director of the ATSB, Nat Nagy, said the organisation was “aware of a previous incident” with this aircraft.

“There were a number of factors involved in that incident and that will be something we look at,” he said. “It’s a matter of course and routine in any investigation to look at ... the individual aircraft history and any other incidents that may be relevant.”

The ATSB would release a preliminary report on the fatal crash within 30 days, he said. Investigators looked at raising the aircraft in one piece but were forced to lift it in pieces, said Nagy. The plane’s wing had separated as a result of the crash and had to be recovered by divers on the bottom of the river.

Det Supt Mark Hutchings, of New South Wales marine area command, said it appeared there had been “quite an impact on hitting the water” and the plane had sunk rapidly after impact. The wings and pontoons had separated from the fuselage.



On Thursday, Richard Cousins’ brothers Simon and Andrew Cousins said they were thankful for the outpouring of support they had received. “We are deeply touched by the tributes to Richard, William, Edward, Emma and Heather in the media and throughout the community,” they said in a statement.

They thanked the rescue operators, and particularly the Sydney water police, Compass Group and the British consulate in Sydney.

“On behalf of our extended families,” they said, “we thank you for allowing us to grieve privately during this difficult time and respect our decision to not participate in any media interviews.”

Friends, family and politicians paid tribute to the victims as they were named on New Year’s Day.

Richard Cousins, the chief executive of the catering company Compass, was looking forward to a new life after standing down from the firm, said his friend Marc Bolland, the former chief executive of Marks & Spencer.

“It’s extremely sad,” said Bolland. “What makes the tragedy more immense is he was also starting a new personal life. He was as happy as I had ever seen him and was so looking forward to this new life.”

Paul Walsh, the chairman of Compass Group, 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.”



Emma Bowden, who worked as art editor at OK! magazine was the Grace Kelly of the office, said her friend and former editor-in-chief Lisa Byrne. “She was quite regal, very serene, and very well educated. My first impressions of her were that she was lovely; a very kind person. She was such a wonderful, calming influence in the office, and I never heard her grumble,” she said. “Her absolute main priority was her daughter, Heather.”

Will Cousins worked for Open Britain, the group campaigning against a hard Brexit. “Will was an extraordinary young man who was passionate about what he did, who took deep pride in his work, and came into the office every day with enthusiasm, energy and determination,” said Roland Rudd, the chair of Open Britain.

Chuka Umunna, the Labour MP for Streatham, said: “Will was an absolute pleasure to work with, utterly dedicated to the cause, dynamic and full of enthusiasm. He went about things with great heart and humour. He had his whole life ahead of him and one cannot compute that it has been taken from him. We’ll all miss him so much.”



