In a remote region of Australia's Queensland state, a light plane tragically crashed on Saturday, claiming the lives of three firefighters who were on board, as confirmed by the police.

Around 2:30 p.m. local time (0430 GMT), emergency authorities received notifications about the plane crash in the vicinity of the outback town of McKinlay, located approximately 1,500 kilometers (932 miles) to the north of the state capital, Brisbane, as reported by Reuters.

Throughout the week, firefighters in Queensland have been diligently battling to contain bushfires that have resulted in two casualties, the destruction of numerous homes, and evacuation orders.

According to a statement by the police, "Three people on board were located and confirmed deceased. The light plane was contracted by Queensland Fire and Emergency Services for fire mapping purposes."

Prime Minister Anthony Albanese conveyed his condolences, stating that the thoughts of all Australians were with the family and friends of the "courageous firefighters who lost their lives."
"In this moment, our hearts go out to them," Albanese said while in Shanghai on Sunday, as per an official transcript.