Tourists' narrow escape after Great Barrier Reef plane crash
Nine tourists and a pilot on board a plane that flipped and crashed while trying to land on Lizard Island in the Great Barrier Reef are "lucky to be alive".
The light plane bound for Cairns, was carrying nine adults and one 14-year-old girl, when it crashed shortly after 7:30am on Monday morning.
It is believed that the plane tried to return to the Island after a mechanical malfunction, colliding with trees as it came down.
Queensland Ambulance operations sent two rescue helicopters to the Island, shortly after the accident, and four passengers were flown back to Cairns Hospital for treatment.
Royal Flying Doctor Service nurse Stephanie Beatty said it was remarkable that they managed to come out of the crash relatively unharmed.
"Minor injuries, minor head injury and a fractured arm, otherwise most shaken but okay," she said.
"I think the people are very lucky to be alive."
Queensland Ambulance Service Acting Assistant Commissioner Brina Keating also said that it was "incredible" they managed to walk out alive.
"All were walking — they were able to get out of the aircraft," she told ABC News.
"To walk away from something like that is incredible."
Ms Keating also said that the cause of the crash was being investigated.
Footage of the wreckage shared on social media show the mangled plane lying upside down with broken propellers, and emergency tape closing off the area.
According to the Cairns Hospital and Health Service, all 10 people are in a stable condition.
Images: Anna Rawlings/ X