'Several' injured after seaplane goes down in Vancouver: police

A number of 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," the VPD said. "Several passengers have been treated for injuries and taken to hospital."

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

A spokesperson for Harbour Air said one of its planes, with five passengers onboard 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 that they were working with authorities to support the people affected by the collision.

Numerous agencies — including the Vancouver Police Department, Vancouver Fire & Rescue Services and the Coast Guard — were dispatched to Coal Harbour on Saturday. (Submitted by Kwan)

A statement from 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 — the Laredo Sound and a fast rescue craft," the JRCC said. "Once on scene, they worked with multiple agencies to respond."

The JRCC told CBC News that everyone on the boat and floatplane were rescued, however they did not say how many people were involved in the crash.

A Harbour Air electric seaplane — not involved in Saturday's crash — is pictured in December 2019. The company confirmed 5 passengers were on board its plane when it collided with a boat. (Ben Nelms/CBC)

A statement from the Transportation Safety Board said investigators were gathering information and assessing the crash, but that little information was available as of 2:50 p.m. PT Saturday.

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