Two adults, two children die in Australia light plane crash

BRISBANE (AFP) - Two adults and two children have died following a light plane crash in waters off the Australian city of Brisbane, the police said on Sunday (Dec 19).

Queensland state police said the four were killed after the small aircraft crashed off the coast near Redcliffe, a bayside suburb in the city's north, just after 9am local time.

The bodies of the 69-year-old pilot and three passengers – an adult male and two children – were later recovered by police divers. The passengers are yet to be identified.

Police inspector Craig White described it as a "tragic accident" in the lead-up to Christmas.

"This is the last thing that any family need to go through this time of the year," he said.

Local media images showed the four-seater plane upside down in the water.

Early reports indicated it crashed shortly after take-off, authorities said, but a full investigation had been ordered to determine the cause.

The Air Transport Safety Bureau said additional investigators would be sent from the national capital Canberra to assist in the probe.

"A multi-agency operation is under way with Queensland Water Police officers and divers along with the forensic crash unit assisting other agencies, including the Australian Transport Safety Bureau, as investigations continue," the police said in a statement.

Queensland police commissioner Katarina Carroll told local media that the initial response had encountered challenging conditions.

"The plane is in a very, very difficult situation, a difficult position in the wetland area, and we have currently got police and divers travelling to that area, and that's all I can say at this stage," she said.

A police spokesman confirmed that the four were the only people on board when the plane crashed.

Authorities said it could take some time to retrieve the wreckage from the crash site.