Harbour Air/Westcoast Air is investigating the overnight sinking of one of its aircraft at the Vancouver Harbour Flight Center (VHFC), the seaplane dock that has been built on the north end of the Vancouver Convention Centre, the company said Saturday.
Harbour Air docked a $1.6-million seaplane to test the facility’s safety and suitability for seaplane use. The DeHavilland single Otter was found in the early morning half-submerged in Vancouver Harbour.
Service to the Comox Valley will not be affected, said Greg McDougall, CEO of Harbour Air/Westcoast Air.
“In our 30-year history of operating out of Vancouver Harbour, we have never had an aircraft sink at our docks," he said. "We will be working with investigators to determine the cause of this incident.”
Harbour Air/Westcoast Air is the world’s largest seaplane airline. It flies more than 400,000 passengers annually, with a fleet of 50 aircraft that service seven B.C. communities, including downtown Vancouver’s Coal Harbour.