2 hospitalized after seaplane goes down in Vancouver: officials

Two people have been hospitalized after a seaplane collided with a boat in Vancouver's Coal Harbour near Stanley Park on Saturday, officials confirmed.

A CBC reporter on the scene, near Canada Place, confirmed that rescue boats were circling a small plane in the water near Brockton Point in Stanley Park.

The Vancouver Police Department (VPD) said in a statement that a Harbour Air seaplane collided with a pleasure boat in the water around 1 p.m. PT.

"A number of people were on board both the plane and boat," police said. "Several passengers have been treated for injuries and taken to hospital."

Police did not confirm exactly how many people were injured, but said more details would come as the investigation progresses.

On Sunday morning, Vancouver Fire and Rescue Services Assistant Chief Jarret Gray confirmed two people on the boat were taken to hospital.

WATCH | Crew and passengers escaped the sinking floatplane: 

Two injured after float plane crashes into pleasure boat in Vancouver

6 months ago

Duration 2:01

A pleasure boat was hit by a float plane taking off in Vancouver’s Coal Harbour near Stanley Park, sending two boaters to hospital. The accident is now raising concerns about boats and float planes operating in the same waters during tourist season.

A spokesperson for Harbour Air said one of its planes, with five passengers on board for a sightseeing tour, collided with a boat after takeoff from the seaplane terminal.

"All five passengers on the aircraft, and the pilot, are uninjured and safe," according to the statement.

"We have been advised by the local authorities that all passengers on the boat have also been accounted for."

The spokesperson added they were working with authorities to support the people affected by the collision.

Brian Twaites, a spokesperson for B.C. Emergency Health Services, confirmed that crews transported two people to hospital after the collision.

"None of the 10 additional patients required transport to hospital," he said in a statement.

In a statement to CBC, the Transportation Safety Board (TSB) confirmed the downed aircraft is a De Haviland DHC-2 Mark 1, commonly referred to as a Beaver, which carries up to six passengers. 

According to the board, the plane is underwater and secured to a barge at the Main Street Dock.

The TSB said it has begun conducting witness interviews and is co-ordinating with the aircraft recovery team to understand its plans.

"In the next few days, the investigation team will attend the aircraft recovery, examine the wreckage, continue gathering information, and conduct more interviews," a TSB spokesperson said.

'It sort of jumped in the air'

Pat Anson, a tourist from Australia, said he was walking around Coal Harbour when he saw the floatplane seemingly crashing into a boat.

The plane looked like it was about to take off, he told CBC News. 

"We saw two speedboats in front of it and I am not sure if it hit the speedboat or not, but it sort of jumped in the air and did a nosedive over the top of the speedboats."

The Joint Rescue Co-Ordination Centre (JRCC) in Victoria said officials received a call around 12:55 p.m. PT involving a floatplane and a boat in Coal Harbour. 

"Kitsilano Coast Guard station sent two vessels to the scene ... Once on scene, they worked with multiple agencies to respond," the JRCC said in a statement.

Coal Harbour is the site of Vancouver's downtown seaplane terminal, served by carriers such as Harbour Air and Seair Seaplanes.