Authorities lifted a seaplane that crashed into a bridge in Shanghai out of the water on Wednesday (July 20).

Fiver people were killed in the crash.

One survivor was seriously injured and is undergoing surgery, while four others sustained lighter injuries, the government said.

The seaplane was on its maiden flight to an offshore island, authorities added.

The Cessna 208, operated by AVIC Joy General Aviation, was carrying 10 people from Shanghai's Jinshan district to Zhoushan, an island in the eastern province of Zhejiang, the district government said in a statement.

The cause of the crash is under investigation, it added.

Xinhua news agency said the airline is the first seaplane operator in eastern China approved to carry passengers.

An airline official, reached by telephone, declined to comment.

AVIC Joy General Aviation is an affiliate of state-owned Aviation Industry of China.