A trip of a lifetime for three couples ended in tragedy this week after their seaplane plunged into the ocean off Rottnest Island, sending shockwaves around the world.

The bodies of a pilot and two foreign tourists have been recovered after a seaplane crash off Rottnest Island, WA authorities say.

James Wong, 34, and two foreign tourists — a 65-year-old Swiss woman and a 60-year-old Danish man, who were both on holiday with their respective partners — died when the Cessna 208 Caravan plunged nose-first into the water near Thomson Bay at Rottnest Island about 4pm.

A seaplane crashed during takeoff from an Australian tourist island, killing three people and injuring three others.

The pilot of a seaplane that plunged into the ocean off Rottnest Island shortly after take off, killing three people, is identified as James Wong.

Premier Roger Cook has confirmed three bodies have been recovered from the wreckage of a seaplane which crashed off Rottnest Island on Tuesday.

A small seaplane ferrying European tourists plunged into the ocean off Western Australia killing three people on board, authorities said today. The plane c

A seaplane crashed off Rottnest Island in Western Australia on Tuesday afternoon. At least three people have died and three others have been injured. Recovery efforts and investigations are ongoing. The cause of the accident is not yet known.

Three people are dead and a further four are injured after a seaplane crashed off Western Australia's Rottnest Island.