A new video obtained by Global News shows Vancouver Coal Port On Saturday, a seaplane collided with a boat.
The video showed the Harbour Air plane skidding on the water before accelerating and colliding with the vessel and falling back into the sea.
We could see the tail of the plane cocked up and the boat continued to float around the plane.
In the collision, two of the four people on board were seriously injured. The five people on the seaplane were not injured.
The Port of Vancouver confirmed the collision late Saturday afternoon.
“We can confirm that a Harbour Air seaplane and a recreational boat collided at the entrance to Coal Harbour at 12:51 p.m.,” said Arpen Rana, a spokesperson for the Port of Vancouver.
“The Canadian Coast Guard notified the Port Authority and other first responders of the incident. A Port Authority harbor patrol vessel and other emergency vessels immediately responded to the incident.”
The Transportation Safety Board of Canada has confirmed it is investigating the incident.
Breaking news from Canada and around the world
Sent to your email, as it happens.
Former investigator Bill Yearwood told Global News it looked like neither side could see the other.
““During a seaplane takeoff, visibility can be somewhat limited early in the takeoff,” Yearwood said.
“When the aircraft gets up on the steps, visibility improves. But at the same time, as you get closer to the object, it goes down and your vision goes down.”
Yearwood said it was unclear what exactly happened.
“Luckily, you know, the people on board survived with very few injuries,” he added. “(I) can imagine some of the mental strain they must have been under, unfortunately, I know the people on board were seriously injured and I hope they make a full recovery.”
Yearwood said a similar incident occurred about 20 years ago, but he is often surprised that collisions like this don't happen more often.
— Filed under Darrian Matassa-Fung
© 2024 Global News, a division of Corus Entertainment Inc.
