Six Australians, a family of four and an explosives expert with his dad, were killed after a plane crash in Southern Laos.

Michael Creighton, 41, and his father Gordon Bruce Creighton from Glen Innes, Northern New South Wales were two of the Australians killed in the crash. The young Creighton had been in Laos as operations manager for Norwegian People's Aid for almost a year while his father was only visiting him at the time.

Michael's fiancé, Melanie Fuller, who also works and lives in Laos, was in Vientiane, Lao's capital. Fuller is also from Glen Innes and works for the Australian Government. She posted a heartfelt and moving message on Facebook to pay tribute to the love of her life.

"I have lost the love of my life, my heart, my soul," she grieved. "(Lost) my future, my children, my world and myself... For everyone wondering, that is the loss I will live with forever."

Michael Creighton with Fiance Melanie Fuller on a holiday

Photo credit: Facebook.com page Remembering Michael and Gordon Creighton

His father was visiting young Creighton in Indochina when Michael had to take a routine flight to Pakse to help demine one of the most mined countries after decades of conflict in the 20th century. Michael led in this field and worked at The Geneva International Centre for Humanitarian Demining.

Gordon and Michael Creighton

Photo credit: Facebook.com page Remembering Michael and Gordon Creighton

A family of four had a three-week vacation in Asia when they hopped into the same plane. Tax Agent Gavin Rhodes died with his wife Phoumalaysy (nicknamed Lea), their 3-year old daughter, Jadesuda, and 17-month-old son, Manfred. "They were a very, very happy family," A Douang Deuane Hotel staff in Vientiane where the Rhodes family always stays during their visits said, "They had very pretty children." Rhodes worked for Etlanda, a family taxation firm.

Rhodes family killed in the Laos plane crash

Photo credit: Twitter.com/Gav_Rhodes

Reports said the flight was delayed due to bad weather as tropical storm Nari battered Laos' south and central provinces. A witness said the aircraft may have been hit by a strong wind that forced the plane's nose upward. Airlineratings.com said the plane was new but Lao Airlines had not gone under safety audit. The plane crashed into the Mekong River in Champasak Province during a fierce weather, carrying 44 passengers and five crew.

According to the Aviation Safety Network, Laos has had 29 fatal plane crashes since the 1950s but data showed the country's safety record has dramatic improvements in the past decade. Laos' economy is insulated from global financial networks and trade.

It has become a popular tourist destination and its growth is significantly dependent to mining.