The aircraft crashed “quite low to the ground” at the Caboolture aerodrome, north of Brisbane, police said.

One of the aircraft was taking off about 10.30am when the collision occurred.

“At the moment, there are two deceased (people) in the plane that took off from the eastern end,” police Superintendent Paul Ready said.

“We are still trying to confirm who those persons are. It is an incident between two planes that has been a loss of life which is tragic.”

One pilot survived with minor injuries and is helping police.

“It is probably quite lucky when you look at the damage on the ground,” Supt Ready said of the survivor.

Queensland Ambulance and firefighters responded to the “significant incident” with paramedics assessing “multiple patients”.

Senior Operations Supervisor Matthew Davis said a man and woman in their 60s were confirmed dead after their aircraft crashed.

The other plane landed safely and the pilot, aged about 70, had no significant injuries, he said.

Mr Davis described the scene as “incredibly confronting”.

“Any incident involving the loss of life, particularly under these circumstances extremely, extremely difficult and hard, obviously, for the first responders and most importantly for the family.”

Paramedics will be debriefed and offered counselling.

Queensland Police Minister Mark Ryan confirmed the two fatalities and said a full investigation would be conducted.

“I understand that two people in one plane are deceased,” he said.

“The occupant of the other plane is relatively uninjured.”

Caboolture Airfield caters to general aviation and ultralight aircraft and is not controlled by Airservices Australia.

A spokesman confirmed the aircraft involved were registered and not linked to the gliding club based at the airfield.

The Australian Transport Safety Bureau will investigate the collision.