Rescue crews were called to the waters off Sechelt on Tuesday, where a seaplane crashed with three people aboard.
BC Emergency Health Services says it was called at 12:48 p.m., and had deployed three ground ambulances, which transported the three to hospital with minor injuries.
Sunshine Coast resident Ian Bolden told Global News he saw the aircraft circling low, then go down about eight kilometres off Davis Bay.
WATCH: Witness video of search underway near Sechelt
“Initially I thought it was looking at whales or something like that, but they went really low and then hit the water with a big splash,” he said.
“There was a tugboat heading out there … and two planes circling over top.”
The Joint Rescue Coordination Centre (JRCC) said a Ledcor tugboat was nearby and able to rescue the occupants, who were transferred to a coast guard hovercraft.
The Sunshine Coast RCMP said all occupants of the aircraft were recovered.
It remains unclear what company was operating the aircraft.
More to come…