<div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Authorities are searching for an unknown number of passengers and pilots after an aircraft crashed into the water off Western Australia.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Police were alerted to a privately owned sea plane that plunged near Thomson Bay on Rottnest Island shortly after taking off about 4pm (7pm AEST) today.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Witnesses told 9News the aircraft stalled, rocking from side to side before the left wing hit the water.</span></div></div><div><div id="adspot-mobile-medium"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><strong><span>READ MORE:</span></strong><span> </span><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/annual-summer-lamb-ad-returns-focusing-on-online-trolls-and-unity/0bccbb47-89dd-4c77-b5b6-46f0abe0eaf4" rel="" target="_blank" title=""><strong><span>Annual summer lamb ad returns, takes aim at online trolling</span></strong></a></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>The plane could be seen half-submerged in the water as police and nearby boaties responded.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Police Commissioner Col Blanch said four people had been recovered from the water but the total number of pilots or passengers inside the plane when it crashed was still unknown.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>9News understands up to six people were on board.</span></div></div><div><div class="OUTBRAIN" data-reactroot="" data-src="//www.9news.com.au/national/rottnest-island-search-underway-after-sea-plane-crashes/008fd6be-04ec-4876-a080-dc7fae750deb" data-widget-id="AR_5"></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><span>Two women in their 40s were seriously injured and were awaiting a rescue helicopter to be flown to Perth Hospital.</span></div></div><div class="block-content"><div class="styles__Container-sc-1ylecsg-0 goULFa"><a href="https://www.9news.com.au/national/how-to-follow-9news-digital/29855bb1-ad3d-4c38-bc25-3cb52af1216f" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>DOWNLOAD THE 9NEWS APP</span></em></strong></a><strong><em><span>:</span></em></strong><span> </span><em><strong><span>Stay across all the latest in breaking news, sport, politics and the weather via our news app and get notifications sent straight to your smartphone. Available on the</span></strong></em><span> </span><a href="https://apps.apple.com/au/app/9news/id1010533727" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>Apple App Store</span></em></strong></a><span> </span><strong><em><span>and</span></em></strong><span> </span><a href="https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=nineNewsAlerts.nine.com&amp;hl=en_AU" target="_blank"><strong><em><span>Google Play</span></em></strong></a><strong><em><span>.</span></em></strong></div></div>