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Betty MacDonald, the author of The Egg and I and the Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle Series is beloved all over the world. Don't miss Wolfgang Hampel's Betty MacDonald biography and his very witty interviews on CD and DVD!
Monday, January 1, 2018
Britons feared dead
Britons feared dead after seaplane crash near Sydney
Five passengers, including 11-year-old child, and pilot killed when tourist flight plunges into Hawkesbury river
Four Britons are feared dead after a tourist plane on a New Year’s Eve flight crashed near Sydney, leaving no survivors. Five passengers, including an 11-year-old boy, and the aircraft’s
pilot died after the tourist flight plunged into the Hawkesbury river
near Cowan, north of Sydney, at about 3.10pm local time on Sunday,
police said. Local media reported that four of those killed were
believed to have been Britons, but police did not provide any details of
the deceased. The plane crashed while flying from Cottage Point to Rose Bay on Sydney harbour ahead of a New Year’s Eve fireworks display. Divers recovered the bodies from the wreckage of the plane, operated
by Sydney Seaplanes, on the bottom of Cowan Creek under 13 metres of
water.
New South Wales police said an investigation was under way to identify the victims and determine the cause of the crash. “For reasons that are not known at this stage, the plane has hit the water and it has subsequently sunk,” saida
police spokesperson. “At the time of the collision there was a pilot
and five passengers on board. I can confirm the six people on the plane
are deceased.” The Foreign Office (FCO) was unable to confirm any details of the
crash but said British officials were in contact with authorities in
Sydney. An FCO spokesperson said: “Officials from the British consulate
are in contact with local authorities in relation to a seaplane accident
near Sydney. Staff are ready to provide consular assistance.” One witness, Myles Baptiste, told the broadcaster 9News that the
plane was 500 metres from him when it hit the water. “It made a tight
right-hand turn and as it actually turned around, the wings dipped and
it nosedived straight into the water,” he said. The Australian Transport Safety Bureau said the single-engine plane
was reported to have sunk rapidly after hitting the water. In a
statement, the bureau said: “At around 3pm this afternoon, a DHC-2
Beaver Seaplane, VH-NOO, operated by Sydney Seaplanes, was flying in the
vicinity of Jerusalem Bay (near Cottage Point). It is understood that
there was one pilot and five passengers on the aircraft on a return
flight to Rose Bay, Sydney harbour. “The sequence of events leading up to the accident are not yet
understood, however, following the impact with the water, the aircraft
is reported to have sunk rapidly.”
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The bureau is expected to release a preliminary report in just under a month, according to the Australian. Sydney Seaplanes,
a scenic flight company, confirmed ownership of the crashed aircraft
and company representatives said they were working with police to
discover what had led to the tragedy. Its managing director, Aaron Shaw, said the cause of the crash was
unknown. “All at Sydney Seaplanes are deeply shocked by this incident
and the resulting loss of life. We wish to pass on our heartfelt
condolences to the family and friends of the passengers and pilot who
were tragically killed. We do not yet know the cause of the accident,”
he said. “We are dedicating our full resources in assisting the NSW police,
the Australian Transport Safety Board, Civil Aviation Safety Authority
and other relevant authorities to understand the cause of the accident.” He said the company had been operating since 2005 and had no history
of previous accidents. It had “undertaken thousands of flights in that
period and … had an unblemished safety record until now”, he said. “The safety of our passengers and staff is our absolute primary and
highest priority. Our aircraft are professionally maintained to
manufacturer’s specifications and our seaplane pilots are some of the
most experienced in the world.” The company provides flights above and around some of Sydney’s most
popular tourist sites including the opera house, the Harbour Bridge,
Pittwater and the Hawkesbury river region. Shaw said it had suspended all operations until further notice.
Betty MacDonald Fan Club, founded by Wolfgang Hampel, has members in 40 countries.
Wolfgang Hampel, author of Betty MacDonald biography interviewed Betty MacDonald's family and friends. His Interviews have been published on CD and DVD by Betty MacDonald Fan Club. If you are interested in the Betty MacDonald Biography or the Betty MacDonald Interviews send us a mail, please.
Several original Interviews with Betty MacDonald are available.
We are also organizing international Betty MacDonald Fan Club Events for example, Betty MacDonald Fan Club Eurovision Song Contest Meetings in Oslo and Düsseldorf, Royal Wedding Betty MacDonald Fan Club Event in Stockholm and Betty MacDonald Fan Club Fifa Worldcup Conferences in South Africa and Germany.
Betty MacDonald Fan Club Honour Members are Monica Sone, author of Nisei Daughter and described as Kimi in Betty MacDonald's The Plague and I, Betty MacDonald's nephew, artist and writer Darsie Beck, Betty MacDonald fans and beloved authors and artists Gwen Grant, Letizia Mancino, Perry Woodfin, Traci Tyne Hilton, Tatjana Geßler, music producer Bernd Kunze, musician Thomas Bödigheimer, translater Mary Holmes and Mr. Tigerli.
