Small plane crashes into sea off southeast Australia, killing at least 3

A small plane has crashed into the sea off the town of Barwon Heads in the Australian state of Victoria, killing at least three people, police say, according to BNO News.

The accident happened just before 12:30 p.m. local time when the aircraft went down into the Bass Strait, in an area just off Bridge Road in Barwon Heads. There was no immediate confirmation about the type of aircraft involved or how many people were on board, but it's believed to have been a six-seat aircraft.

"Police and emergency services are currently at the scene of an incident in Barwon Heads where a plane has gone into the water," Victoria Police said in a brief statement. It later added that three bodies had been located, although it did not clarify whether any other people remain missing.

"The cause of the incident is not yet known and we will provide further details once they come to hand," the statement added.

The Coast Guard told Melbourne radio station 3AW that at least five people were feared to have died in the crash, but BNO News could not independently confirm that figure. Ambulance Victoria said it had dispatched two air ambulances to the scene.

Barwon Heads is just southeast of Geelong, and about 65 kilometers (40 miles) southwest of Melbourne.