Two additional lawsuits have been filed seeking damages following a 2024 collision between a Harbour Air seaplane and a recreational boat in Vancouver Harbour. The incidents occurred on June 8, 2024, and have led to legal actions from both the victims and the airline.
Victims' Lawsuit
Two elderly women, Li Wei Yu, 69, and Fan Li, 70, both from Vancouver, have filed a lawsuit in B.C. Supreme Court against Harbour Air, NAV Canada, the Vancouver Fraser Port Authority, and the boat operator, Wei Qi Zhang. The lawsuit, filed just before the two-year statute of limitations expired, claims the women suffered serious and permanent injuries.
According to the claim, Yu and Li were among eight family members aboard the pleasure craft when Zhang steered the boat into an area where seaplanes frequently take off and land. The Harbour Air Beaver aircraft, while taxiing for takeoff on a sightseeing tour, collided with the left side of the boat, striking the two women who were seated there.
The lawsuit alleges that the plane's pilot had been warned by radio of the boat's location but did not stop. It further claims negligence against Zhang for navigating into a known takeoff and landing area, and against the pilot for failing to exercise additional care given visibility limitations caused by the aircraft's engine and nose-up attitude. The port authority is accused of negligence for not marking the takeoff and landing zones, and NAV Canada for clearing the plane for takeoff.
Both women sustained life-altering injuries requiring surgery and lengthy recoveries. Yu suffered head, brain, shoulder, neck, and forearm injuries along with cuts and bruises. Li sustained injuries to her face, ribs, lungs, pelvis, and spleen.
Harbour Air's Lawsuit
Separately, Harbour Air has filed a lawsuit against Wei Qi Zhang, the boat's owner and operator, seeking damages for the salvage and repair of the Beaver propeller aircraft. The airline claims Zhang's negligence caused the collision and subsequent damage to the plane.
Both lawsuits name multiple defendants and allege negligence individually and collectively, seeking unspecified damages. The legal actions highlight ongoing disputes over responsibility for the crash that occurred in the busy Vancouver Harbour.
