What happened
The incident occurred during a nighttime departure from Suva Airport. The aircraft was operating a scheduled service bound for Auckland. Shortly after takeoff, the seaplane lost contact and crashed into the Pacific Ocean waters near the Fiji Islands. Search efforts continued in the days following the disappearance, during which debris was recovered from beaches in the vicinity of Lauthala Bay. Despite these findings, no wreckage large enough to confirm the exact crash site or recover human remains was located. Consequently, there were 15 fatalities, as none of the occupants on board were ever found.
Findings
The specific circumstances leading to the loss of the aircraft remain unknown. No definitive conclusion regarding the mechanical condition, weather factors, or operational errors has been established in the available records.