An aircraft has crashed at Melbourne’s Essendon airport, setting the adjacent DFO shopping centre on fire.
The airport and adjacent Tullamarine Freeway, the main artery between the city and Melbourne’s main airport, has also been closed.
VicRoads said the freeway is closed between English Street and McNamara Avenue. Motorists are being asked to exit the freeway as soon as possible. Bulla Road is also closed.
The Calder Freeway is also closed between Pascoe Vale Road and McNamara Avenue.
The accident happened shortly after take-off at 9 a.m. local time.
Five people were on board the Beechcraft charter flight bound for King Island. There are no reports yet on injuries or the fate of those on board. Witnesses say they say a fireball rise into the sky.
Police Minister Lisa Neville said “it appears to be a very, very tragic accident that has occurred out there”.
“It’s too early to know whether there has been fatalities but it appears to be a very, very tragic accident that’s happened out there,” she said.
The DFO outlet was not open at the time.
Opposition leader Bill Shorten’s electorate is not far from the site.
https://twitter.com/mims/statuses/833814451061002240
Horrific scenes from Essendon. Hard to fathom such an ordinary morning could turn so tragic.
Ambulance Victoria has denied it is one of their aircraft.
“Contrary to media reports the plane that has crashed at Essendon is not an Ambulance Victoria aircraft,” it tweeted.
Here are photos of the scene:
