Air crash investigators have been sent to the Middle Island crash site where a British woman died and two remain in critical condition after an aircraft from tour company 1770 Castaway crashed on Tuesday.
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Three passengers and local pilot Les Woodall were flying to the remote island from Agnes Water when the Cessna 172 crashed into a beach on the eastern side of the island about 10.45am.
The crash killed a 29-year-old woman from the United Kingdom and critically injured a 21-year-old Irish woman who is studying at Monash University in Melbourne, and the aircraft's pilot, Mr Woodall.
A 13-year-old boy suffered minor injuries.
Passengers in a second light aircraft that had been following the Cessna 172 called 000 after seeing the plane land on its roof on the beach.
It is understood the tourists were camping on the island, organised through 1770 Castaway Fly-In Island Adventures.
The 21-year-old woman and boy were flown to Rockhampton Base Hospital.
The woman was flown to Brisbane overnight in a critical condition for treatment to a head injury, while the boy remains in a stable condition at the hospital.
Mr Woodall was airlifted to Bundaberg Base Hospital with suspected spinal injuries. He remains in a critical condition.
His daughter Kirsty Ann posted to 1770 Castaway's Facebook page on Wednesday morning to thank everyone for their prayers for her "tough" dad.
"Even though (he is) very broken physically and mentally right now, we are all hoping for a full and speedy recovery," she wrote.
"We offer our condolences to the other families involved today also and send our love and prayers."
Detective Inspector Jane Healy said early investigations show a mechanical fault was to blame for the charter flight crashing on Middle Island.
Two investigators from the Australian Transport Safety Bureau, specialising in aircraft engineering and operations, will examine the accident site on Wednesday.
It is expected to take the investigators three days to examine the wreckage, talk to witnesses and review aircraft and pilot documentation.
On Tuesday evening, 1770 Castaway issued a statement offering condolences to the families and loved ones of those involved in the tragedy and offering full co-operation to the investigators.
- with AAP
