A plane that crashed near Cape Raoul off the Tasman Peninsula on Monday has been found at the bottom of the sea, Tasmania Police have confirmed.

The bodies of the pilot and the passenger were found in the cockpit of the plane wreck, police said.

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Acting Assistant Commissioner for Tasmania Police, Tony Cerritelli, said divers made the discovery around midday.

“The plane was located on a sandy bottom in that area [off the Tasman Peninsula] and two deceased people were unfortunately located in the cockpit,” he said.

‘We believe that those two people are the two missing people who went down with the Cessna earlier this week.”

Pilot Sam Langford, 29, and photographer Tim Jones, 61, were covering the Sydney to Hobart yacht race from the Cessna 172 when it ditched.

Photographer Tim Jones, left, and pilot Sam Langford were on board the plane when it crashed. Photo: Supplied

Acting Assistant Commissioner Cerritelli said crews were already working to recover the wreck.

“We’ve been able to secure the plane on ties and we’re slowly moving it to an area below the police [boat] Van Dieman, which will enable our divers to get down to a depth at around 30 metres so that they can collect evidence and eventually retrieve the two people from the cockpit,” he said.

“This is going to be a particularly slow process.

“As a result of the crash the plane is likely to be quite fragile and we’re concerned about it being broken up.”

Families of victims ‘distraught’

Airlines of Tasmania said it was devastated to receive the news of the death of its pilot Mr Langford and his passenger.

Managing director Shannon Wells said the airline staff were receiving all support possible as they came to grips with the loss of their colleague.

“Our thoughts and condolences extend to family and friends of Sam and Tim,” Mr Wells said.

“Both men were highly regarded within their industries. We’ll all be worse off without their presence.

“Tasmania Police, the Search and Rescue volunteers and competitors in the Sydney to Hobart yacht race, who did as much as they could to assist, have all done a tremendous job in very difficult and tragic circumstances.”

The crew of the plane were covering the Sydney to Hobart yacht race.

Acting Assistant Commissioner Cerritelli said the families of the victims were aware of the latest developments.

“We’ve already spoken to the victims’ families and they’re aware of developments as of now,” he said.

“Because this is a death the coronial jurisdiction will take control and the coroner is being consulted in relation to all the developments that have occurred this afternoon.

“The process is slow … the families are clearly distraught about the events that have occurred this week and … we are working for the families to bring them home.

“I ask that their privacy be respected.”

A number of yachts diverted from the race to render assistance after seeing the plane go down.

Helsal III skipper John Davis said he was below deck when crew members raised the alarm.

“A young lady said a plane had just crashed, so we immediately suspended racing and went into search-and-rescue mode, so to speak, to try and see what exactly had gone on and how we could assist if at all,” he said.

Police have said the plane sank within 30 seconds, no one was seen getting out and no distress call was made.