A small plane has crashed into a Melbourne shopping centre near Melbourne’s Essendon airport.
What we know
- The plane crashed just before before 9am into a section of the shopping centre next to the Tullamarine Freeway at Bulla Road in Essendon Fields. It appears the plane hit the roof of the centre.
- The plane rose to about 30 metres, veered left and is understood to have put out two mayday calls before crashing. Police said they suspected engine failure.
- All five people on board were killed. There were no other fatalities.
- The plane was a Beechcraft King Air chartered to carry five golfers to King Island. It was being operated by Corporate and Leisure Travel, who had hired it from MyJet in Bendigo, Bas Nikolovski, head of Australian Corporate Jets confirmed.
- The light plane took off from runway 17 at Essendon airport around 9am.
- The Tullamarine Freeway is closed inbound between Western Ring Road and Pascoe Vale Road. The Calder Freeway is also closed inbound between the Western Ring Road and Bell Street.
- Premier Daniel Andrews described it this afternoon as the state's "worst plane disaster in 30 years".
Live updates
2.26pm: American tourists believed on board the plane that crashed in Melbourne.
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Fairfax Media believes some of the passengers on the plane were US citizens who had organised a round of golf on one of King Island's three golf courses.
It is understood that consular officials from the US embassy attended the crash scene on Tuesday morning.
1:41pm: This is how the crash happened:
1.19pm: The head of an aviation company responsible for the maintenance of the plane that crashed into Essendon DFO today said there could be "a million reasons" for the accident.
Aviation Corporate Jet Centre chief executive officer Vas Nikolovski desribed the twin-engine plane as "a magnificent aircraft".
His company registered the plane for commercial charter flights just one week ago.
A CASA spokesperson confirmed it was the plane's registered operator that was responsible for its maintenance.
He said there could be "a million reasons" for the tragic accident.
"When its in flight it could be human error," Mr Nikolovski said. "It’s not reflective of maintenance."
Mr Nikolovski said the plane should still have been able to fly even when one of its engines failed.
"Engine failures can happen and it's not the end of the world. Aircrafts fly many distances with one engine."
1.10pm: King Island mayor Duncan McFie has released a second statement about the crash at the Essendon Airport.
“A number of lives were lost in what was described as a catastrophic plane crash,” he said.
Essendon Airport is closed to freight and passengers.
A full investigation will be carried out by the Coroner, Airport Safety Board, Victoria Police and Civil Aviation Safety Authority.
The King Island Council operates the King Island Airport at Currie.
12.45pm: Emergency Management Commissioner Craig Lapsley has told media "no one survived the crash".
"There were five people on the airplane and it looks like nobody has survived the crash," he said at a press conference just after midday.
"Police are currently speaking to relatives and we will not be able to release information until later today."
Victoria Police Assistant Commissioner Stephen Leane has also confirmed there were five on board the flight at the time of the crash and it appears no one has survived.
There are no known deaths other than those on board the plane.
12.45pm: Premier Daniel Andrews was asked at a press conference today if Essendon Airport should be shut down. He replied the airport was very important to Victoria.
"There are many thousands of passenger movements and also freight movements that come out of the Essendon Airport each and every year and it's an important transport asset to our state," Mr Andrews said.
"There will be some – and they are entitled to – who (will) want to have a … discussion and a debate about how suitable Essendon Airport is," Mr Andrews said.
"The best thing to do now is to allow those processes to run their course – let's get the facts and then we can deal with it from there."
12.40pm: Premier Daniel Andrews has confirmed a number of people have died as a result of the plane crash.
At the same press conference, Emergency Management Commissioner Craig Lapsley has said it is unclear how long the airport will be closed, but said the Calder Freeway outbound lanes are now open.
Victoria Police Assistant Commissioner Stephen Leane has also confirmed there were five on board the flight at the time of the crash and it appears no one has survived.
"There were five people on the airplane and it looks like nobody has survived the crash," he said.
"Police are currently speaking to relatives and we will not be able to release information until later today."
Emergency Management Commissioner Craig Lapsley said it remained unclear how long the airport would be closed.
Ben Priess reports that Ambulance Victoria have already dealt with a small number of people who worked at the DFO who have been treated for shock.
Three schools that were closed this morning reopened this afternoon, Mr Lapsley said.
Mr Andrews said many thousands of passenger and freight movements came from Essendon Airport every year.
Mr Leane said there was significant building damage and the plane had also crashed into the car park. Engineers will be called in to examine structural damage to the building.
He said the plane had only been in the air a short while before the crash.
However, he said it was lucky there weren't more people at the shopping centre.
Mr Lapsley said aviation fuel was the main fuel for the blaze.
12.20pm: Cape Wickham Golf Course said all of its golfers booked to play the course on Tuesday morning were accounted for.
A staff member at Ocean Dunes Golf Course could not say whether the golfers were due to play at the course or were booked into the accomodation.
The passengers on the flight are believed to be a pilot in his 60s and four American tourists, writes the Advocate.
12.15pm: Police investigators locate debris on the roads near to the plane crash site, including a wheel.
12:12pm: MFB has confirmed the fire is now out. It took firefighters 1.5 hours to put out the flames.
Police are holding a press conference soon to provide more information.
Staff, who ran from the building to the car park after the crash, are waiting to see if they can go back in to get their discarded belongings.
12:09pm: Cameron Houston reports the owner of the charter flight business is Corporate and Leisure Aviation, which is based at Essendon Airport.
The company is owned by Melbourne couple Max and Cilla Quartermain.
The company's website states that Mr Quartermain was the holder and operator of an Air Operations Certificate for more than 38 years and had an "impeccable safety record".
It is unknown if the 63-year-old pilot was was behind the controls of the Super King Air B200 when it crashed.
A spokesman for the company said they were unable to make any comment until they had received confirmation from Victoria Police.
11:57am: Good Guys worker Ash Mayel was coming down the Tullamarine Freeway off ramp when he felt the explosion about 100 metres from the crash.
"We felt the shock wave from it," he said.
"The car has shaken. We got out and saw the fireball go up. We thought someone had set off a bomb."
As soon as Mr Mayel was told a plane had crashed into the building, he and his mates tried to get as close as they could to help.
"But the fireball that was there, there was nothing we could do, we couldn't get close to it," he said.
"It's taken off half the building. And then it dawns on you that people are inside there and what can we do? Nothing."
A colleague, who saw the plane crash, has been left badly shaken.
"He's gone home, he couldn't deal with it," Mr Mayel said.
11.54am: Nick Scali Furniture worker Grace Martin told The Age reporter at the scene Chloe Booker that she was having a coffee before work when she heard a plane overhead that sound louder than usual.
She looked up and saw a plane "wobbling" as it flew a metre above the roof of the DFO building.
"I saw it fly over the top of me and it was shaking," Ms Martin said.
"And that's when I ran away and heard the crash and saw the flames."
Fighting back tears, Ms Martin said it was a "surreal" experience.
"My heart almost jumped through my throat," she said. "It was pretty scary."
11:52am: The Australian Transport Safety Bureau has sent four investigators from Canberra and Brisbane to the site and are expected to arrive this afternoon, Patrick Hatch reports.
The investigators will exam the wreckage, gathering recorded data, including from the plane's radio and radar, and interviewing witnesses.
11:50am: Essendon Airport's chief executive Chris Cowan said the DFO shopping complex was closed until further notice.
"Australian Transport Safety Bureau is en route to comment investigation of the incident."
He said the airport's emergency plan was activated immediately after the incident occurred.
11.24am: The Australian Transport Safety Bureau has asked witnesses to call 1800 020 616 to help with the investigation into the crash.
11.22am: Victoria Police Superintendent Michael Frewin told media at the scene:
"What we know at this stage is that at around nine o'clock this morning a Beechcraft airplane was taking off from Essendon Airport, close to taking off from the Runway, called in a mayday," he said.
"We understand that there was potentially a catastrophic engine failure, but we're unsure at this stage, going to a slight degree of altitude before crashing into the back of the DFO and Focus on Furniture.
"As soon as the MFB put out the fire we will do a structural integrity test of the building and then we will send people to ascertain those that are injured or otherwise.
"He said the area the plane hit was a storage area at the back of Focus On Furniture and JB HIFI.
"It was a private charter flight, that I can tell you."
He said there was "some debris on the freeway proper" and the freeway would be closed for some time.
Police are expected to hold another press conference shortly.
11.17am: An MFB spokeswoman has said the Essendon Fields DFO-aircraft fire was brought under control about 10.30am this morning.
It took about 56 fire fighters 90 minutes to bring the blaze, caused by the plane crash, under control, the MFB has said.
"The fire has been brought under control and the incident has been handed over to Victoria Police."
10.55am: It is suspected the aircraft involved in the crash near Essendon Airport was chartering golfers to King Island.
It is a popular destination for golfers with the island’s two courses, Cape Wickham and Ocean Dunes, ranked the first and second-best public courses in the nation.
The Advocate in Burnie reports, that the mayor of King Island Duncan McFie has released a statement and expressed his "concern for anyone affected".
10.43am: This morning a light plane crashed into the rear of the Homemaker Centre of DFO Essendon. The centre was not open at the time, the centre's management has confirmed.
Vicinity Centres has told Patrick Hatch it is working with Essendon Fields and Victorian emergency services who are currently coordinating and managing the immediate response to this incident, and the centre is currently closed.
We aren't able to confirm if there any injuries or fatalities at this stage.
"The thoughts of all at Vicinity Centres are first and foremost for the safety and welfare of those directly impacted in the incident.
We will continue to provide further updates as information becomes available," it said.
10.20am:
10.15am: The plane that crashed into a major shopping outlet in Melbourne was bound for King Island with five golfers on board, writes The Examiner.
A source on King Island said the golfers were due to arrive on the island on Tuesday morning.
RFDS Victoria has confirmed the plane involved in a crash at Essendon DFO was not part of their fleet.
RFDS Victoria chief executive Scott Chapman said they were shocked and saddened by the event.
“We stand by able to assist,” he said.
RFDS has dispatched its road ambulance service to assist with the emergency.
10.06am: A spokesman for the Australian Transport Safety Bureau said investigators would be attending the crash site and releasing information as it came to hand.
10:05am: Confirming the light aircraft has crashed into the the DFO at Essendon Fields into the Spotlight and Nick Scali furniture stores.
10.03am: Daniel May said he was waiting for DFO to open, when he saw the plane come down, reports Emily Woods.
"I was chatting to my friend waiting for DFO open and then see the low flying plane come in and crash behind one of the stores," he told Fairfax Media.
"There was an orange explosion, and then smoke.
"He said the plan crashed behind the JB HiFi store, believed to have been into Spotlight.
"It seems to crash the space behind those stores and near the off ramp of the highway.
"There was damage and wreckage and burning behind one of the stores, and it crashed at the back before the highway.
"Emergency crews rushed very quickly in, soon after, and I left the area."
10.01am: Government sources said the airplane was a "Beechcraft" with five passengers chartered to King Island, reports Richard Willingham.
9.48am: The Victoria Police statement:
“Emergency services are responding to a plane crash into a building near Bulla Road in Essendon Fields.
“It is believed the plane crashed just before 9am. At this stage we do not have information regarding possible casualties and police are currently evacuating the area.
“The surrounding roads will be affected for some time.
“We will bring you further information as it comes to hand.”
9.38am: The Tullamarine Freeway is closed in both directions between English Street and Bell Street.
The Calder Freeway is closed in both directions between McNamara Avenue and Bell Street.
Bulla Road is closed at the Tullamarine Freeway including the entry ramp to the Tullamarine Freeway inbound.
VicRoads says delay travel through the area and seek an alternative route.
VicRoads advises motorists to exit the Tullamarine Freeway as early as possible and keep away from the area.
9.36am: Ambulance Victoria has released a statement confirming the aircraft is not an air ambulance, nor belonging to Ambulance Victoria.
9.32am: An MFB spokeswoman said she was on the way to the airport.
"MFB crews are responding to an incident at DFO near Essendon Airport. Lots of smoke visible in the area. Please avoid the area."
9.30am: Collin Ting works at Cafe Chezzi inside the DFO food court and said he could see a lot of black smoke coming from near the airport.
"It's quite far from us, but I can see a plane has crashed near the entrance to the airport."
He said the crash was not near the DFO building, and they had not yet been evacuated.
9.29am: The plane is believed to be a King Island charter flight, with five passengers on board.
An Ambulance Victoria spokeswoman confirmed they were responding to the crash and said she was unaware of reports the aircraft was an air ambulance.
She said she had no information on injuries at this stage.
9.25am: Victoria Police has released a statement:
Emergency services are responding to a plane crash into a building near Bulla Road in Essendon Fields.
It is believed the plane crashed just before 9am.
At this stage we do not have information regarding possible casualties and police are currently evacuating the area.
The surrounding roads will be effected for some time.
We will bring you further information as it comes to hand.
A witness to the incident told 3AW’s Neil Mitchell, "I saw a ball of flames".
"My heart's racing."
LISTEN: Neil Mitchell hears from callers who saw the plane crash at Essendon
The Calder and Tullamarine Freeways are both closed, as is Bulla Road.
9.20am: An air ambulance has reportedly crashed into shops at the DFO in Essendon.
The Tullamarine is closed in both directions.
There are reports the Calder Freeway and the Western Ring Road have both been closed.
Eight fire crews are responding to the crash.
More to come.