Six Australians have been killed in a plane crash in Laos.

The Lao Airlines plane crashed into the Mekong River during a violent storm in the southern city of Pakse, near the border with Thailand. None of the 44 passengers and five crew aboard the French-made ATR twin-turbo plane survived, Lao officials said.

A spokesman for the Department of Foreign Affairs said six Australians were listed on the flight and consular officials were in contact with their families.

“Lao authorities have told our embassy in Vientiane they do not expect any survivors,” the spokesman said.