Home Australia Survivors of Rottnest Island seaplane crash break silence to reveal pilot James Wong’s ‘critical’ final act that saved their lives

Survivors of Rottnest Island seaplane crash break silence to reveal pilot James Wong’s ‘critical’ final act that saved their lives

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Pilot James Wong, 34 (pictured), along with a 65-year-old Swiss woman and a 60-year-old Danish man, both passengers, died in the crash.

A couple who survived a seaplane crash that claimed three lives received a safety message from the pilot shortly before they died.

The plane carrying six passengers and the pilot crashed into the water moments after take-off and sank near the popular holiday resort Rottnest Island, off the coast of Perth, last Tuesday.

Perth pilot James Wong, 34, a 65-year-old Swiss woman and a 60-year-old Danish man, both passengers, died.

The other four passengers, a 63-year-old Swiss man, a 58-year-old Danish woman and Western Australians Jeremy and Patricia Connor, aged 63 and 65, survived.

The Connors broke their silence about the accident Tuesday with a statement to those involved in the tragic incident.

“Our thoughts and deepest condolences are with our fellow travelers, their families and friends,” the statement said.

‘We will be forever grateful that we and others were able to reach safety.

“We know it could have been an even more tragic outcome and we sincerely hope that everyone can move on from what happened and heal over time.”

Pilot James Wong, 34 (pictured), along with a 65-year-old Swiss woman and a 60-year-old Danish man, both passengers, died in the crash.

The plane was carrying seven people when it crashed into the water and sank near Rottnest Island, off the coast of Perth, last Tuesday. In the photo the remains of the plane are recovered.

The plane was carrying seven people when it crashed into the water and sank near Rottnest Island, off the coast of Perth, last Tuesday. In the photo the remains of the plane are recovered.

The couple added that their thoughts and deepest condolences were with Mr Wong’s family, friends and colleagues.

“We will never forget and will always be grateful that your demonstration of how to open the emergency exit was a critical factor in our survival,” they added.

The Connors thanked the people who helped rescue them from the water in Thompson Bay on Rottnest Island and the medical staff who treated them before they were airlifted to a hospital on the mainland.

The couple also thanked the surgical and nursing staff at Perth Hospital who treated their injuries and the police and Australian Transport Safety Bureau staff who investigated the incident.

Jeremy and Patricia Connor, ages 63 and 65, who survived a fatal seaplane crash, thanked the first responders who saved their lives.

Jeremy and Patricia Connor, ages 63 and 65, who survived a fatal seaplane crash, thanked the first responders who saved their lives.

“All of you, without exception, were exceptional and provided an incredibly generous and professional response that made a huge difference and means a lot to us,” the Connors said.

The bureau has recovered the seaplane from the ocean floor and is investigating the cause of the crash.

It hopes to publish a preliminary report on the causes of the accident within two months.

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