Three bodies have been pulled from the wreckage of a crashed seaplane by police divers, Western Australia's Premier Roger Cook has confirmed.
The privately owned Cessna 208 Caravan 675 aircraft is believed to have struck a small limestone outcrop called Phillip Rock while taking off from Rottnest Island, off the coast of Perth, about 4pm local time on Tuesday.
It plunged into the water near Thomson Bay with seven on board including the pilot.
Three bodies were pulled from the wreckage of the seaplane by police divers on Tuesday night, Mr Cook confirmed on Wednesday.
The victims include a 65-year-old woman, believed to be a Swiss tourist, a 60-year-old man, believed to be a Danish tourist, and the 34-year-old male pilot from Perth.
"My thoughts go out to the families and friends of the victims," Mr Cook told reporters on Wednesday.
"This is no doubt very difficult for everyone involved and on behalf of every Western Australian I want you to know that you're in our thoughts and in our prayers."
After the crash, four people were helped from the water and three of those were taken to hospital with a range of injuries
The survivors include a 63-year-old Swiss man, a 63-year-old West Australian man, a 65-year-old West Australian woman and a 58-year-old Danish woman.
WA Police Commissioner Col Blanch said there were still parts of the wreckage submerged eight metres below the surface and authorities would be working to get everything out of the water.
He said there was a 200-metre exclusion zone in place while police and Australian Transport Safety Bureau officers conducted investigations and recovered the remaining parts of the aircraft.
Mr Blanch said police are working with the survivors to understand what happened during the crash.
The Australian Transport Safety Bureau confirmed on Wednesday it was investigating and had sent a team from its Perth, Brisbane and Canberra offices.
The team specialise in aircraft operations and maintenance and "human factors", ATSB Chief Commissioner Angus Mitchell said in a statement.
The investigation will gather evidence from the site and the wreckage and recover aircraft components to be examined at the agency's technical facilities in Canberra.
"Investigators will also seek to interview those on board, and any other witnesses and involved parties, and collect relevant recorded information including available flight tracking data, as well as pilot and aircraft maintenance records, and weather information," Mr Mitchell added.
Witnesses said the plane made a huge splash when it hit the water.
"It was just a big splash, it wasn't a big explosion or anything crazy," holidaymaker Hayden Harvey told The West Australian.
"It's obviously like a sort of drop in the heart."
Emergency services and civilian vessels rushed to the scene of the crash to help pull passengers from the plane.
Prime Minister Anthony Albanese said it was terrible news.
"The pictures would have been seen by all Australians as they've woken up this morning and and our hearts go out to all those involved," he added.
The Cessna plane had been recently acquired by operator Swan River Seaplanes, which runs scenic flights around Perth and Rottnest Island.
The plane arrived on New Year's Day after flying from NSW and remains registered to its previous owner Whitsunday Air Services Pty.
Rottnest Island, also known as Wadjemup, about 20km off the coast, is a popular holiday spot, attracting thousands of Australian and overseas visitors each year.
