Maldives Seaplane Float Fails While Taxiing, Tipping Aircraft Into Water: Chinese Tourists Among Passengers Evacuated Safely; One Crew Member Seriously Injured
At about 2:25 p.m. Maldives time on November 11, a de Havilland DHC-6-300 Twin Otter seaplane operated by Trans Maldivian Airways (TMA) suffered a failure of one of its floats, which partially detached, while taxiing at the seaplane terminal of Velana International Airport in Male, Maldives. The aircraft tilted to one side and partly took on water. All passengers aboard were safely evacuated, with no passenger injuries; one young crew member was injured and taken to intensive care, where the person remains on a ventilator. Chinese tourists were among the passengers aboard.
Maldives Airports Company confirmed that airport emergency services reached the scene immediately and provided assistance, that seaplane operations were not affected, and that flight services continued normally. TMA said in a statement that the aircraft was approaching the seaplane terminal platform when the incident occurred and that all passengers and crew had been safely evacuated. The exact cause of the accident has not yet been announced, and the airline and the relevant authorities are investigating jointly.
A Chinese passenger at the scene described how a crew member was working on the float when it broke, the aircraft lost its balance and tilted into the water, the captain smashed open an emergency exit, and staff brought life rings; passengers jumped from the emergency exit into the sea and swam to shore, fortunately with no passenger injuries. The aircraft type involved is one of TMA's main models, widely used to connect Velana Airport with resorts across the Maldives.
(Source: Maldives Airports Company)
Source: Maldives Airports Company
Published by GSM · USA (original Chinese edition)
Photo: 图：停靠在马累维拉纳国际机场水上机场的 TMA 双水獭水上飞机（资料图）。照片：Martin Falbisoner，CC BY-SA 4.0，经 Wikimedia Commons。 / Photo: A TMA Twin Otter seaplane at the Velana International Airport seaplane terminal in Male (file photo). Photo by Martin Falbisoner, CC BY-SA 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons.
