Authorities say they are investigating the cause of the crash off an island near Perth, Western Australia.
A light aircraft has crashed during takeoff at a popular tourist destination in Australia, killing three people and injuring three others.
The Cessna 208 Caravan private jet crashed into the sea after taking off from Rottnest Island, about 30 km (18.6 miles) west of Perth, at around 4pm local time, authorities said on Wednesday.
A 34-year-old man from Perth, a 65-year-old woman from Switzerland and a 60-year-old man from Denmark died, Australian Prime Minister Roger Cook said.
“My thoughts go out to the families and friends of the victims. This is no doubt very difficult for everyone involved,” Cook told reporters at a news conference.
Cook said the accident happened in the presence of a large number of tourists, including families with children.
“Every West Australian knows that Rottnest is our premier tourist destination. It is deeply disturbing that something so tragic should happen in front of so many people, in a place that provides so much joy, especially at this time of year,” he said.
A 63-year-old Swiss man, a 58-year-old Danish woman and an Australian couple in their 60s were rescued from the scene of the accident.
The Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) said it was investigating the cause of the crash.
“As reported to the ATSB, the seaplane collided with water during takeoff, before becoming partially submerged,” the agency said in a statement.
“The ATSB will deploy a team of transport safety investigators from its offices in Perth, Brisbane and Canberra, specializing in human performance and aircraft operations and maintenance.”
Rottnest Island, also known by its indigenous name Wadjemup, is one of Western Australia’s most popular tourist destinations, attracting more than 800,000 visitors in 2023, according to the WA Tourism Council.
The protected nature reserve is known for its white sandy beaches and unique flora and fauna, including the quokka, a mostly cat-sized nocturnal marsupial.
