Seven boats from the Sydney to Hobart yacht race have diverted to the scene of a light plane crash off the south-east coast of Tasmania as they neared the finish on Monday night.
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Race organisers said they were alerted to the crash by police at 6.20pm and were told that it occurred in an area near Tasman Island and Cape Raoul where a number of yachts in the race were sailing.
In a statement released about 9.30pm tonight, the managing director of Airlines of Tasmania, Shannon Wells, said that the company had received notification from the Australian Maritime Safety Authority that a light aircraft had been ditched into the water near Port Arthur.
The aircraft, a Cessna 172 (VH-PFT) had been conducting aerial photography of the Sydney to Hobart Yacht Race.
Mr Wells said there were two people on board the plane - the pilot and one passenger.
''We are working with all relevant authorities and providing as much assistance as we can to the Tasmania Police," Mr Well said.
"We will provide further updates when available. At this time, our thoughts are with the families of the persons on board.''
The seven yachts who diverted from the race to see if they could offer assistance were Mistraal (NSW), Enchantress (SA), Kraken (WA), Inner Circle (NSW), Helsal 3 (Tas), Love & War (NSW) and Wax Lyrical (NSW).