Tragic twist as Queensland plane crash victims identified: 'Heart is breaking'

The bodies of a young couple have been found at a crash site in the Clarke Ranges west of Proserpine after the plane they were in failed to arrive at its North Queensland destination on Sunday evening.

Pilot Rhiley Kuhrt and his wife Maree — who, according to social media, was pregnant with their daughter — reportedly left Natal Downs Station, about 430km west of Mackay, and were headed for Lakeside Airpark, Bloomsbury. When the plane didn't arrive, a large-scale aerial search ensued and continued on Monday morning.

The couple, from Quilpie, Queensland, were due to land in Lakeside at around 5.30pm, but were reported overdue by air traffic control at 6.30pm, according to Courier Mail. It's believed they were headed to a medical appointment at Prosperine Hospital when the plane they were in vanished.

Queensland Police confirmed the pair were located alongside the wreckage shortly after 11am on Monday. The discovery followed an extensive two-day search coordinated by Australian Maritime Safety Authority (AMSA) and RACQ CQ Rescue.

Tributes flow for 'beautiful couple'

Tributes have started to flow online for the young couple following the news of their tragic death. Posting on Ms Kuhrt's Facebook page, a friend of hers revealed that her "heart is breaking". "Just days ago we were talking about how exciting it’s going to be raising our children together. RIP my beautiful friend," she wrote. "Praying hard this isn't true," said another in disbelief.

"You were honestly a beautiful couple and deserved nothing but happiness," someone else wrote. "That got taken away from you all of a sudden, you were going to be parents in a short amount of time."

Deceased couple were expecting child together

The couple announced their pregnancy with family and friends on Facebook in December, and in February, revealed they were having a girl at a gender reveal party. They married in an outdoor ceremony in October last year after becoming engaged in June 2021.

The expectant mother posted her last photo on Instagram just one day before her death. She revealed they were "getting closer and closer to meeting baby girl" and were at the 27-week mark.

• Community 'traumatised' after abseiling instructor dies in front of students

• Helicopter crash survivors' chilling admission weeks after fatal tragedy

• Horrific scenes after severe turbulence injures plane passengers

Mr Kuhrt's last Facebook post was a video recording one of his many flights over rural southwest Queensland. In another video he's seen smiling and laughing at the camera while four dogs sit in the back of the plane. Queensland Police said they're coordinating with next of kin.

Do you have a story tip? Email: newsroomau@yahoonews.com.

You can also follow us on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok and Twitter and download the Yahoo News app from the App Store or Google Play.