THREE people have been killed in a horror plane crash in Queensland, authorities have confirmed.
Emergency services were called after a firefighting jet fell in "difficult terrain" near Mount Isa on Saturday.
Paramedics earlier told Australian media that the crash was "unsurvivable".
Flight records show the plane left Toowoomba just before 11am on Saturday.
It and was due to land in Mount Isa about 3pm when it vanished from the radar between Cloncurry and Mount Isa.
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Queensland police and paramedics were called by a local community member just after 2.30pm, 7News reports.
Cops said a helicopter located the wreckage from the air while ground crews made their way to the site.
At 5pm, three people on board were located and confirmed deceased.
Police said: “Police understand the light plane was contracted by Queensland Fire and Emergency Services to undertake fire mapping.
“The Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) has been notified of the crash and will conduct a transport safety investigation.
“The Forensic Crash Unit will investigate the crash on behalf of the State Coroner.”
Queensland Fire and Emergency Services (QFES) said the aircraft was contracted to “support the Queensland bushfire response”.
“It was engaged by QFES to conduct line scans, and travelling from Toowoomba to Mt Isa when it crashed near Cloncurry,” the force said.
“The cause of the crash is currently unknown and QFES will assist the Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) with its investigation.”
Investigations into the crash are ongoing.
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It comes just over a fortnight after another light plane crash in Queensland.
The "kit-built" aircraft crashed in the Southern Downs region and burst into flames, sparking a grass fire.
The pilot, who was the only person on board the plane, died at the scene.
A local farmer was the first to spot the inferno and called emergency services while trying to extinguish the fire himself.
The farmer created a fire break at the property to help contain the blaze until fire crews arrived and were able to take over.
Rescue teams initially struggled to get past the flames to the wreckage.
