Nineteen people have been confirmed dead after a Tanzanian passenger plane crashed into Lake Victoria in East Africa on Sunday.

Precision Air, a private Tanzanian airline operating the flight, said the plane took off from Tanzania's largest city Dar es Salaam and crashed while trying to land at an airport in the lakeside city of Bukoba in the country's northwest.

The airline's statement said that of the 39 passengers and four crew members, 24 people survived. Footage from the scene showed the aircraft almost fully submerged, with only its tail visible above the water. Rescue efforts by boat were also shown.

Reuters news agency quoted local media as saying the plane was approaching the airport in poor visibility during a storm.

Authorities are investigating the cause of the crash.