Plane Crashes Into a Melbourne Shopping Centre, Killing All Five People on Board

A plane carrying five passengers crashed into the side of DFO—near Essendon Airport—in Melbourne’s north.

The ABC confirms five people have died as a result of the accident.

Several people witnessed the crash, which has been named Victoria’s worst civil aviation accident in 30 years. They describe seeing the plane erupt into a “massive fireball” after it slammed into the DFO centre just after 9am local time.

A spokesperson from the state government said the Beechcraft five-person charter flight to King Island crashed shortly after take-off. According to police there were no other fatalities on the ground; those on board, however, have died in the crash.

The plane called mayday as it was taking off. Victoria Police Superintendent Mick Frewen said the aircraft appears to have experienced a “catastrophic engine failure”.

Focus on Furniture and JB Hi Fi stores were hit by the crashing plane. Staff in the building have been offered counselling.

“There are a number of people who witnessed this terrible accident and they have been given the support, the psychological first aid that they need by Ambulance Victoria,” Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews addressed the media.

A team of investigators were deployed to the scene, while a number of roads were closed in the area.

The ABC shared some first-hand witness accounts, which you can read here.

Photo: Twitter (@abcmelbourne)