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.

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.

Police forensics officers have arrived to investigate the tragic crash as tourists continue to flock to the holiday island.