Four people have been pulled from the water – but three were still missing – after a privately owned plane crashed into the sea off Western Australia’s popular tourist site Rottnest Island.
Rescue efforts led by police and emergency services crews, but also involving civilian vessels, continued into Tuesday evening.
Police said the seaplane was carrying seven people, including the pilot. Three people pulled from the water had suffered serious injuries and a fourth was rescued uninjured.
But three people remained missing several hours after the plane went down at 4pm local time.
On Wednesday morning, Anthony Albanese said the crash was “terrible news”.
“My heart goes out to all those involved,” the prime minister said.
The seaplane crashed in Thomson Bay, which features Rottnest’s main beach as well as a busy marina and ferry port.
The WA police commissioner, Col Blanch, said on Tuesday evening that it appeared the plane had hit Phillip Rock, half a kilometre offshore at the entrance to Thomson Bay.
“Water police and a number of civilian vessels provided immediate aid in an attempt to assist in the rescue,” Blanch said. “This is very much an unfolding incident and we are working to ascertain the details.”
Blanch said police had deployed “significant resources” to the scene but details of the crash remained uncertain.
“There have been a number of members of the public who did not hesitate to assist and I thank them for their efforts.”
Greg Quin told ABC radio in Perth the plane crashed moments after taking off from the bay, reaching only about three metres above the water before suddenly descending.
“We were watching the sea plane take off and, just as it was beginning to get off the water, it just tipped over and it crashed,” he said.
“A lot of people in the water on their boats rushed to the scene and I think got there really, really quickly, which was just amazing.
“But it very quickly got caught up in the wind and the current and began drifting [it] away.”
Rottnest Island, also known as Wadjemup, is located about 20km off the coast from the WA capital, Perth.
The island is a popular holiday spot, attracting thousands of visitors.
The island, which is also home to the world-famous marsupial quokkas, has a small airport and various companies offer flights to and from the mainland, though most visitors arrive by ferry. The seaplane service flies there direct from the Perth CBD river foreshore.
The WA premier, Roger Cook, said “the images we are seeing of an emergency unfolding off Rottnest Island are deeply concerning”.
“My thoughts are with all those affected and I want to thank our first responders who are attending to the crash site.”
With Australian Associated Press
