Swan River pilot and partner 'died at the scene' in Australia Day crash
The two people who died when their light plane crashed into Perth's Swan River have been identified as 52-year-old Peter Lynch and his partner, Endah Cakrawati.
WA Police have confirmed the pair were killed when their plane crashed into the water on Australia Day as thousands of revellers watched on in disbelief.
The plane was seen flying above the crowded river foreshore in preparation for an Australia Day sky show when disaster struck.
The Australia Day Skyworks event was subsequently cancelled.
“Can I start by extending my deepest sympathies to the two families of the deceased, two wonderful people,” Acting Commissioner Stephen Brown said on Friday.
“A tragic set of circumstances, a tough call by the City of Perth and other, but the right call.
“What we have now is a situation where we have a police coronial investigation which is underway.
"It will take sometime to identify exactly what occurred and why.”
Mr Brown said investigators were now focusing on recovering the plane, after the bodies of the duo were retrieved within 30 minutes of the crash.
"My understanding is they died at the scene,” he said.
"I hope we'll have that [the plane] out in the next 24 to 48 hours, but as you would imagine it's quite a logistical exercise."
Mr Lynch's wife confirmed the loss of her husband on Facebook while several others paid tribute to his achievement as a pilot.
“With great difficulty I am unbearably saddened to confirm that my great friend and the father of my children passed after a tragic accident on the Swan River in Perth yesterday,” Laura Lynch posted to social media.
According to various reports the pair were separated.
In a tribute on the Down Under Aviation News Facebook page, Mr Lynch was described as a "passionate pilot".
"A highly respected aviation supporter and well known in the industry for attempting to inspire more to get involved," the tribute said.
"He and his passenger will be greatly missed."
The Great Eastern Fly In Committee said there was a "great sadness" over Mr Lynch's death.
"Peter was a man of vision and one with a passion for aviation, and was well loved and respected in our close-knit flying community," the statement said.
"Our deepest and sincere condolences are expressed to Peter's family and many friends who are grieving with his sad passing.
"Clear skies Peter ... and may you Rest In Peace our dear friend and colleague."
According to The West Australian Mr Lynch purchased the seaplane from the US in 2011.
He reportedly flew it to Australia the following year after a mechanical rebuild.
Mr Lynch was described as an “instrumental force” during the development of the airpark at the Evans Head aerodrome in New South Wales, and a strong supporter of the Evans Head Memorial Aerodrome and Aviation Association.
Association President, Rod Kinnish, described Lynch as "a man of incredible vision and passion" who will be sorely missed.
"Everything about the place (Evans Head) he respected and admired," Mr Kinnish told APN.
Thousands of stunned witnesses had watched on in horror as the plane nose-dived into the waterway after 5pm local time on Australia Day.
The pilot and passenger died when the Grumman G-73 "Mallard" flying boat broke into multiple pieces upon impact.
The tragedy was captured on video and posted to social media by stunned witnesses.
"The plane seemed to be banking and then it looked like it was turning too sharply and just seemed to fall into the water," witness Mark Annette-Stuart told AAP.
The plane went down off the South Perth foreshore and appeared to stall, then flip, before finally crashing into the Swan River.
Nearby boaties rushed to the crash scene in a desperate bid to assist and climbed onto the wreckage to try and save those onboard.
However, the two people onboard could not be saved with City of Perth Mayor Lisa Scaffidi confirming the tragic news on Twitter.
"We must sadly advise that there have been two fatalities within the last hour due to a plane crash into the Swan River," she said.
"Due to the operational need to conserve the integrity of the site, in respect for those killed and as per operational directives for such occurrences, we have exercised the option to cancel the Skyshow immediately.
More than 300,000 people had been expected to attend the Skyworks show around the river.
Acting Commissioner Brown added it was fortunate the plane didn't hit spectators waiting for the Australia Day festivities to begin.
Seventeen-year-old Noyonika Chatterjee told The West Australian she watched the crash happen in front of her.
“It just dropped into the water and that was it,” she said.
“You could see the parts sticking out of the water.
“We heard a loud bang and everyone was just shocked. It’s such a terrible thing to have happened.”
Another witness, Craig Newill, said those around him were just "stunned and shocked".
The annual Perth Skyworks show was cancelled for the first time in its 33-year history with Australia Day revellers asked to leave the city area.
"This is a tragic incident and reinforces the need for people to be constantly vigilant and ready to respond while on the water," Department of Transport spokesperson Chris Maher said.
