Originally Posted by
Jonzarno
Remember also that, once finally committed to landing on that beach, there is no reset button.
In the time-honoured phrase: "let's wait for the accident report".
I've seen reports of engine failure. OTOH there is an intact landing gear and a broken wing strut. So we don't know if there were control problems or engine problems.
I've read reports that the 50yo was laying on a beach towel and had their legs crushed, which indicates this was a beach landing and not a water landing which now looks like a beach landing due to tide changes once the photos were taken.
However, assuming no control problems, there are always options from as low as a few tens of feet off the ground to change your landing point. It's your choice to take an airplane up for private flying, so it's your responsibility not to hurt anyone on the ground if there is anything in your power to avoid it - including if that means a worse outcome for yourself. If you are a few tens of feet of the ground, then you can see your landing point and see an 8 year old girl minding her own business where you plan to put your airplane down. You can move your landing point further out to sea.
At the moment we don't know anything but if it turns out the pilots had other options than landing on people on the beach, they should never fly again.