A small plane carrying five people crashed into a shopping Centre near an airport outside Australia’s second-largest city – Melbourne on Tuesday. As per the officials, unknown number of people may have been killed. “It appears to be a very, very tragic accident that’s occurred out here … that’s potentially caused fatalities,” Victoria state police minister Lisa Neville told Sky News.
Few pictures were also broadcasted showing smoke billowing from the shopping mall. Firefighters were seen hosing down the burning debris.
As per Neville, five people were on board the plane – a charter flight to King Island in Bass Strait between the Australian mainland and the southern island state of Tasmania. The plane crashed just about an hour before the Direct Factory Outlet shopping mall was due to open, said police.
“At this stage we do not have information regarding possible casualties,” Victoria state police said in a statement.
Essendon Airport is a tiny airfield largely used by light planes. As per a spokesperson for Airservices Australia, flights in and out of Melbourne’s main airport were not affected.
