Richard Cousins: Seaplane which crashed killing five Brits 'had been destroyed more than 20 years ago'

Robin de Peyer31 January 2018

A seaplane that crashed in Australia killing five Britons had reportedly been rebuilt after it was destroyed in a separate fatal accident more than 20 years ago.

Richard Cousins, the 58-year-old chief executive of FTSE 100 company Compass Group, died alongside his sons Will and Edward, aged 25 and 23 respectively, in the crash on New Year’s Eve. His fiancée Emma Bowden, 48, and her 11-year-old daughter Heather, also died in the tragedy, as did Australian pilot Gareth Morgan, 44.

It has now emerged that the De Havilland DHC-2 Beaver aircraft, which was first registered in 1964, had reportedly been involved in a crash in 1996, in which its pilot was killed.

The Sydney Morning Herald reported that investigators had marked the plane as “destroyed” after the 1996 crash. It was later said to have been rebuilt and used for crop spraying.

Wreckage: the plane is pulled from the river where it crashed
AP

Nat Nagy, executive director of the Australian Transport Safety Bureau, said: “I am aware of a previous incident with this aircraft," he said.

"There were a number of factors involved in that incident and that will be something we look at.

"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 revelation came after the plane was lifted out of the Hawkesbury River by a crane barge following the crash.

From left to right top: Emma Bowden, William Cousins, Richard Cousins. Bottom left to right: Heather Bowden , Edward Cousins and Pilot Gareth Morgan

The aircraft, owned by Sydney Seaplanes, apparently nose-dived into the river 25 miles north of Sydney on Sunday.

Police divers recovered six bodies from the scene on New Year's Eve and teams returned to the site to begin the process of lifting the wreckage from the water on Thursday.

FTSE chief: Richard Cousins
Bloomberg via Getty Images

Tributes to the victims flooded in after their identities emerged on New Year's Day.

Friends and colleagues said Mr Cousins was a "well-known and respected" businessman who helped transform Compass's fortunes upon becoming the catering firm's boss in 2006.

Ms Bowden, a former arts editor at OK! Magazine, was described as the "Grace Kelly" of their office by Lisa Byrne, its ex-editor-in-chief.

Mr Cousins' son Will was head of press for pro-European Union campaign group Open Britain, and was described by the group's chairman, Roland Rudd, as an "extraordinary young man" who would be "missed beyond words".

On Thursday, Mr Cousins' brothers, Simon and Andrew, released a statement on behalf of the families.

They said: "We are fortunate and thankful for the outpouring of love and support we've received from across the world. We are deeply touched by the tributes to Richard, William, Edward, Emma and Heather in the media and throughout the community.

"We have now arrived in Australia and, as the investigation continues, we would like to take this opportunity to thank all those involved for their dedication and commitment, in particular the Sydney Water Police and those members of the public who helped on the day of the accident.

"We are also thankful for the tremendous support received from Compass Group, Richard's employer, the British Consulate General in Sydney and all those in Australia who have expressed their condolences.

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

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