Seaplane hits bridge in Shanghai, killing 5 – media

SHANGHAI, China – An amphibious plane crashed into a highway bridge on the edge of Chinese commercial hub Shanghai on Wednesday, July 20, killing at least 5 people, according to local media reports.

The plane, owned by charter airline Joy General Aviation, was taking off on a demonstration flight with 10 people on board including the crew, when it hit the bridge in Jinshan district, Shanghai media platform “The Paper” reported.

Five were killed, it said, without detailing the number of injured. Photos posted online showed the plane with its nose on the bridge and its tail on the water.

The Shanghai Daily newspaper reported that those on board included the pilot, co-pilot, and journalists reporting on the flight.

The operator, which flies from a base in the nearby province of Zhejiang, bills itself as the first aviation company to widely use amphibious aircraft in China. It offers short flights for tourists to nearby islands as well as sightseeing tours.

The plane was identified by local media as a Cessna 208B, in a variation that uses floats in place of landing gear for use on water.

Textron Aviation, make of Cessna aircraft, confirmed an incident had occurred.

“Textron Aviation is aware there was an incident today at Jinshan, Shanghai involving a Joy Air-operated Cessna aircraft,” it said a statement provided to AFP.

“The safety of pilots, passengers and the community is our highest concern. We are closely monitoring the situation and will maintain contact with the relevant parties.”  – Rappler.com