A PLANE that overshot a runway in Micronesia has crashed in the ocean.

The Air Niugini carrier was scheduled to take off at 9.55am from the airport on Weno island in Chuuk state headed for Port Moresby in Papua New Guinea.

The PNG Accident Investigation Commission is preparing a team to travel to the site of the accident.

A video posted to by Eriko Rekis’ Facebook page shows dozens of people on small boats surrounding the aircraft.

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A United Airlines flight from Guam that was scheduled to land in the same airport in Chuuk has been diverted to Pohnpei.

It is not known whether there are any injuries, or how many people were on board.

There are mixed reports there were 36 passengers and 11 crew members on board who are safe.

Bill Davis wrote on Facebook that he witnessed the crash from the airport in Chuuk.

“It landed in the water about 160 yards [145 metres] off shore.

“The plane floated long enough for the 36 passengers and 11 crew members to escape and be rescued by locals in their boats.”

The Boeing 737 safely came to rest in the lagoon.

People in small boats were seen rescuing people from the plane before it began to sink.

John Merelli, an employee from a nearby hotel, told Guardian Australia he heard the plane coming in and thought it was a “normal” landing.

“Then I went back to my workplace and somebody told me, and I looked from the rooftop and the plane was starting to go underwater,” Mr Merelli told Guardian Australia.

“It was sinking. It’s under water now,” he said, while praising the impromptu rescue effort.

“The plane crashed and in around five minutes the rescuers were there, they were ordinary people, because there are plenty of boats around the shore. The officials were about 10 minutes.”

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Air Niugini is PNG’s national carrier which services domestic network and international routes across Australia, Asia and the Pacific.