Hindsight is a meaningless thing. If the pilot knew and could see people on the beach then he should have put it down 100 meters out to sea but only he knows what he could see and how packed the beach was.
from the pictures it was a very narrow beach and his instincts would have been to land on terra firma.
Accidents happen with cars every day where innocent people are killed, being an aircraft hits the headlines! I am sure he wishes he could turn the clock back and put it in the sea as he now has to live with the fact that his landing killed the little girl.
very sad and tragic for the pilot too I am sure.
addendum
But then if he put it down and took out a swimmer or surfer or small floating craft he would wish he had put it on the beach? the only way on a popular beach is to put it down a good distance from the shore
pace
Last edited by Pace; 29th Jul 2014 at 07:18.