A Maldivian de Havilland DHC-6-300 Twin Otter on floats performing a flight from Dhaalu Atoll to Male (Maldives) with 15 passengers and 3 crew was on approach to Male’s Sea Port when the aircraft impacted the waters hard at the Sea Port and flipped over.

The occupants were able to evacuate the aircraft in time.

A crew member sustained minor injuries and was taken to a hospital, the other occupants escaped without injuries. The aircraft received substantial damage and became submerged with just the floats remaining above water.

The airline reported the crew attempted to land at the Sea Port, however, due to unexpected extreme weather the crew lost control resulting in a crash landing.

Maldives’ Civil Aviation Authority reported an accident occurred when an aircraft attempted to land at Male’s Water Aerodrome of Velana International Airport. The DHC-6-300 8Q-ISB sustained substantial damage, the 15 passengers and 3 crew were not injured, a number of occupants were taken to a hospital for checks and have been released in the meantime. The occurrence was rated an accident and is being investigated.