CANBERRA, Jan. 2 (Xinhuanet) -- Five people are feared dead when the single-engine plane carrying them crashed near Brisbane, capital of southeastern state of Queensland on Monday morning.

    It was believed that at least one person has survived the accident and airlifted to hospital, Australian Broadcasting Corporation radio reported.

    "The sketchy information we have at this stage indicates one person may have survived," Australian Transport Safety Bureau spokesman Alan Stray was quoted as saying.

    But other media reports quoted skydiving center spokeswoman Angela Garvey as saying at least two of the seven people aboard survived.

    The seven-seater Cessna 206 plane was carrying a group of parachutists when it hit a dam soon after take-off in Ipswich, a town about half-hour drive south of Brisbane.

    Emergency crews are at the scene. Enditem