Plane with 7 on board crashes at Abrolhos Islands

The plane, with seven people on board, overshot the runway at the Abrolhos Islands on Thursday morning.

Rat Island is one of a chain of 122 that form the Houtman Abrolhos Islands, about 80km west of Geraldton.

A plane has crashed into the water on a remote chain of islands with seven people on board.

The light plane, a Gibbs Airvan GA8, overshot the runway at the southern end of Rat Island, which forms part of the Abrolhos Islands in WA, about 8.40am Thursday.

The aircraft ended up partially submerged with the engine in the water.

The plane overshot the runway at Rat Island about 8.40am Thursday morning.

The pilot and six passengers on board at the time are understood to have been unharmed in the crash, but were still taken to a local nursing post as a precaution.

The Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) will investigate. Chief Commissioner AngusMitchell said the aircraft sustained substantial damage.

“ATSB investigators will collect and examine relevant evidence, including interviewing the pilot, analysing relevant weather data, photographs, aircraft operator procedures and maintenance records,” said Commissioner Mitchell.

“The ATSB will publish a final report, detailing contributing factors and any identified safety issues, at the conclusion of the investigation.

“However, should any critical safety issues be identified at any stage during the course of the investigation, the ATSB will immediately notify relevant parties so appropriate safety action can be taken.”

Rat Island is one of a chain of 122 that form the Houtman Abrolhos Islands, about 80km west of Geraldton.

The island chain, also known as the Houtman Abrolhos, is about 80km west from the coastal WA city of Geraldton.

Rat Island is one of 122 islands that make up the Abrolhos, along with coral reefs.

The Abrolhos was the site of the wreck of the Batavia in June 1629, when the Dutch East Indiaman struck reefs.

Of 341 people aboard at the time of the maiden voyage, only 122 survived following atrocities committed by a small group of mutineers who took the crash survivors captive.