Five feared dead after plane crashes into into shopping centre near Melbourne

Five people are feared dead after a small charter plane came in low before crashing into the shopping centre in Melbourne, causing a large explosion.

Sydney, Feb 21: A light aircraft carrying five people crashed on Tuesday into a shopping centre near the Australian city of Melbourne, sending black smoke billowing into the air, officials said.

The Beechcraft plane veered into the shopping centre, that had yet to open next, next to Essendon airport. "It appears to be a very, very tragic accident that has occurred out there," state police minister Lisa Neville told reporters.

She could not provide any casualty figures but confirmed five people were on board the charter from Essendon, north of Melbourne, to King Island, 55 minutes to the south.

Live television footage showed burnout wreckage and major damage at the shopping centre and adjacent buildings. "It appears a light plane, which is a charter flight, has impacted the Direct Factory Outlet at Essendon Fields," Neville added.

PTI