Seair Seaplanes, the Richmond, B.C., operator of a float plane that crashed late Sunday afternoon off Saturna Island, says its fleet of commuter aircraft is not flying today.

"We are suspending our operations just for today out of respect for our passengers and their families," Seair's Evelyn Gatcho told CTV News.

Divers recovered the bodies of six victims, including a baby, early Monday morning but the wreckage of the plane remains under 11 metres of water in Lyall Harbour.

In Pictures: Saturna Island plane crash

Only the plane's pilot and one female passenger survived. They are currently recovering in Victoria General Hospital. Both are expected to survive.

Seair's crash history

Steve Sheehy, chief pilot of fellow aircraft charter operation West Coast Air, says Seair has a high standing in the community.

"They've got a good reputation, I can tell you that," Sheehy said.

Seair operates four types of aircraft, the Cessna Caravan and Skywagon and the de Havilland Beaver and Turbo Beaver.

Prior to Sunday's crash, Seair has had two accidents in the past nine years, both non-fatal.

In December 1999, a Cessna 208 Caravan crashed immediately after taking off from Abbotsford Airport.

The Transportation Safety Board found that the aircraft was 506 pounds in excess of its maximum take-off weight.

The pilot and two passengers were seriously injured, and three other passengers received only minor injuries.

In September 2000, a de Havilland DHC-2T Beaver floatplane crashed after clipping a tree near Broken Hook Lake.

The pilot and single passenger aboard were both seriously injured, but survived.

The company was established in 1980, and currently launches eight flights to the Gulf Islands and up to 10 flights to Nanaima daily.

Investigations underway

The Transportation Safety Board is currently investigating Sunday's crash.

Board spokesman Bill Yearwood says the pilot of the downed single-engine de Havilland Beaver has undergone surgery for his injuries and is now recovering in hospital.

"We're hoping to speak to the pilot as soon as he is fit enough," Yearwood said. "That'll help us a lot with what direction to head in."

Seair president Peter Clarke issued a statement Monday, saying the Richmond-based company is co-operating fully with investigators.

"Our primary concern right now is for the passengers, their family and pilot on board the flight and our employees," he wrote.

Authorities plan to raise the submerged aircraft from Lyall Harbour on Tuesday.

With files from The Canadian Press