A 21-YEAR-OLD Irish woman is in a critical condition in hospital after a light aircraft carrying four people crashed in a remote part of Queensland, Australia.
The crash happened at about 11am local-time this morning (about 1am Irish time) at an area known as Bustard Head, north of Middle Island.
A woman from the UK aged 29 years old, described as a backpacker by local media, was pronounced dead at the scene after the crash.
The male pilot was airlifted to hospital and is described as being in a critical condition.
The Irish woman was airlifted to Rockhampton Hospital where she received treatment for a head injury before being transferred to Brisbane.
Queensland Police have said that she remains in a critical condition and 9 News reports that she may also have suffered a fractured leg.
The Department of Foreign Affairs has confirmed that it is providing consular assistance in the case.
A 13-year-old boy who was also on board was transported to Rockhampton Hospital with minor injuries.
The pilot was aged in his 60s and he was airlifted to Bundaberg Base Hospital suffering multiple trauma injuries.
The remote area is a popular tourist spot and tourists are regularly taken on trips on board light aircraft to view the coastline.
9 News reports that passengers on a second tourist plane witnessed the downed aircraft crash into the beach.
A helicopter ambulance service that was tasked to the scene reported that the passengers had been camping on the island.
Lifeflight Rescue said that the plane which crashed is a single-engine Cirrus SR22 aircraft.
Officers from the Rockhampton Forensic Crash Unit and Criminal Investigation Branch will investigate the crash.
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