Hi All
The aircraft in question was a PA31-350 (Piper Chieftain)
According to the news reports (not that you take them as gospel truth)the pilot had engine trouble shortly after t/o out of Darwin.
It would appear that the best option available was to put the aircraft down in the shallows/mud flats.
The PA31 is not a fun aircraft to fly on one engine, especially when you have a load on board. Sometimes you barely maintain altitude let alone climb.
A great job by the pilot involved!!!
NWF