Plane crash victims’ bodies recovered

Pilot Sam Langford, 29, and photographer Tim Jones, 61, died when the single-engine Airlines of Tasmania plane nosedived into the water off Cape Raoul on Monday, December 29.

Police on Tuesday hauled the wreckage, which contained the bodies of both men, from waters about 88 metres deep. The plane was then transferred to a barge and returned to Hobart.

Inspector Lee Renshaw said it would be a relief for the men’s families to have the remains brought home.

‘‘Any time we can do something like this to bring some closure to the families in relation to these families is a good day,’’ he said.

‘‘I’ve spoken to representatives of both families and they’re very relieved to have their loved ones back.’’

The plane will now be inspected by the Australian Transport Safety Bureau.

Inspector Renshaw said the plane had suffered damage to the wings, engine and nose.

‘‘There’s a reasonable amount of impact obviously to cause the damage to the leading edges of the wings,’’ he said.

The crash occurred as Mr Jones was photographing yachts competing in the Sydney to Hobart race.

Witnesses say the plane was attempting to make a banking turn about mast height before ploughing into the water nose first.

Tasmanian yacht Mistraal was just 300 metres away at the time, and skipper Jacinta Cooper immediately radioed race control to report the crash and provide co-ordinates.

Mistraal and several other Sydney to Hobart competitors assisted police in the initial search for the plane.

The successful retrieval came six days after a broken rope thwarted the first attempt when the plane had been winched to within 15 metres of the police vessel.

The coroner is also investigating the crash.