At least seven people have been killed in a plane crash today in French Polynesia, a local aviation source has told Stuff.co.nz.

An Air Moorea twin engine Dorner aircraft has gone off the Moorea Island runway into the lagoon just after taking off for the capital Papeete.

The destination is popular among New Zealand tourists but the nationality of the dead is unknown.

Unconfirmed reports say there may be survivors.

The plane crashed at 12.15pm local time.