WA crashed plane removed from Swan River

A salvage operation is underway to collect wreckage of a seaplane that crashed during Australia Day celebrations in Perth, killing both people on board.

The WA Department of Transport is leading the delicate operation that began on Friday afternoon and started with the removal of the plane's tail.

"Our primary concern is maintaining the integrity of the site and wreckage for the purposes of the investigation by the Australian Transport Safety Bureau," Ray Buchholz from the Department of Transport said.

A dive team has already assessed the site and a crane, barge and a pollution response vessel are being used to extract the twisted metal.

Peter Lynch and girlfriend Endah Cakrawati died when the Grumman G-73 "Mallard" flying boat broke up on impact in front of horrified families on Thursday afternoon.