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Three people killed in Barwon Heads plane crash, Victorian police say Three people killed in Barwon Heads plane crash, Victorian police say
(about 2 hours later)
Three people have been found dead after a plane crashed at Barwon Heads, near Geelong in Victoria, on Friday afternoon. Three people have been found dead and a fourth is missing after a plane crashed at Barwon Heads, near Geelong in Victoria, on Friday afternoon.
Victoria Police and emergency services were at the scene near Bridge Road where the plane went into the water at about 12.30pm, police said. The light passenger plane from Moorabbin Airport crashed into the ocean off the Victorian coast about 12.30pm on Friday.
While police said they they believed a number of people were deceased, they confirmed three people had been found dead shortly after 2.30pm. Police confirmed three people had been found dead shortly after 2.30pm.
“The cause of the incident is not yet known and we will provide further details once they come to hand,” police said in a statement. Inspector Graham Banks told reporters in Queenscliff three bodies had been retrieved, and there could be a fourth.
A spokeswoman for Victoria police told Guardian Australia there was no official confirmation of deaths yet as emergency services were trying to get close to the crash site. “We believe there is a fourth,” he said on Friday. “We don’t believe any of the victims were children.”
The volunteer coastguard in Queenscliff was assisting with the search for the aircraft. A spokeswoman said there were two vessels in the area of the crash with a possible third to be deployed. Coast guard members were also on standby for a callout, and about 10 State Emergency Service volunteers were at the scene. Sky News reported two of the victims were male and one female.
Banks said police were yet to establish whether the plane, which crashed about 2km off shore, was a private or a tourist aircraft. He said there were no indications the plane started to break up before it hit the water.
The plane is believed to have crashed near the HMAS Canberra, which was sunk to make a reef in 28-metre deep water in 2009.
A witness who was just one kilometre from the crash was still “extremely distressed”, Banks said.
The Australian Transport Safety Bureau said it was investigating but had no details yet. It is unclear if there was a distress call, or whether wet weather was involved.
Bureau of Meteorology duty forecaster Stephen King said there had been showers and low cloud at the time of the crash.
UPDATE: Emergency services dispatched to rescue passengers from a plane crash at Barwon Heads. #9News pic.twitter.com/a3EXL2xqNsUPDATE: Emergency services dispatched to rescue passengers from a plane crash at Barwon Heads. #9News pic.twitter.com/a3EXL2xqNs
There were suggestions poor weather could be hampering the search effort. Bureau of Meteorology duty forecaster Stephen King said there had been showers and low cloud at the time of the crash, which was continuing as the search progressed. There was also a risk of a thunderstorm.
Barwon Heads is on the south Victorian coast, on the Bellarine Peninsula about 25km south of Geelong.Barwon Heads is on the south Victorian coast, on the Bellarine Peninsula about 25km south of Geelong.
Two air ambulance helicopters were dispatched following the crash, Ambulance Victoria said on Twitter.Two air ambulance helicopters were dispatched following the crash, Ambulance Victoria said on Twitter.
Air Ambulance at Barwon Heads pic.twitter.com/A1oHj9HpIKAir Ambulance at Barwon Heads pic.twitter.com/A1oHj9HpIK
Jeff Brooks, from Barwon Heads Airport, said the plane was not one from the area.Jeff Brooks, from Barwon Heads Airport, said the plane was not one from the area.
“The plane was not one associated with our airport either,” he said. “To be honest, the weather here is appalling. I’m surprised anyone was flying, I wouldn’t be flying in it.“The plane was not one associated with our airport either,” he said. “To be honest, the weather here is appalling. I’m surprised anyone was flying, I wouldn’t be flying in it.
“People like to fly along the coast because it’s nice to look at, but there’s not much to see on a day like today.”“People like to fly along the coast because it’s nice to look at, but there’s not much to see on a day like today.”
Inspector Graham Banks from Victoria police said the six-seater plane took off from Moorabbin, and while three were confirmed dead, it was believed a fourth person may have also been on board. Police would not confirm where the plane was travelling to until next-of-kin had been informed of the deaths.
“We hope to have the identification of these persons and their next of kin notified before nightfall,” Banks said.
There was a witness to the crash who had been on a boat within a kilometre of the crash site who was “extremely distressed” and being treated for shock by paramedics, Banks said.
Police would provide another update at 4.45pm, he said.