Two children among four dead after horror plane crash in waters near Brisbane

Two children and two adults have been confirmed dead in a horror plane crash in the waters off Brisbane on Sunday.

Four people – including two children – have died in a horror plane crash in waters off the coast of Brisbane’s northeastern suburbs, authorities have confirmed.

The light aircraft took off from Redcliffe Airport, north of Brisbane, about 9am on Sunday.

Inspector Craig White said the plane was observed to disappear behind mangroves before the wreckage was discovered upturned in shallow water.

He said police divers recovered the bodies of four people at 12pm.

“The matter is currently under investigation, we are working together with the Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) to determine the cause of the crash,” Inspector White said.

The plane remains upside down in the water. Picture: ABC

Family of the 69-year-old male pilot, from Brisbane, have been notified of the incident.

Inspector White said the plane appeared to be on a prearranged joy flight and family of the pilot were at the Redcliffe aerodrome at the time.

“We’re investigating the next-of-kin details of the remaining passengers and at this stage we haven’t been able to confirm their identity,” he said.

“This is a tragic accident, this is the last thing any family need to go through at this time of the year.

“The family are deeply traumatised.”

The earlier rescue operation had been described as “very difficult” due to the plane’s location in the water.

Angus Mitchell, chief commissioner of the ATSB, said investigators were asking for anyone who witnessed anything to contact police or the ATSB.

“It’s quite an inaccessible place at the moment, with a drying mangrove,” he said.

There are some challenges for the next couple of hours to determine exactly how we recover the wreckage.”