Five people are dead and the focus is turning to the final moments of a brief and deadly flighpath in the Victorian suburb of Essendon this morning.
What we know so far is that after taking off shortly after 9am on Tuesday, the five-person Beechcraft charter plane experienced engine failure, dipped dramatically and cartwheeled into a factory outlet.
Before crashing into the DFO building adjacent to Essendon Airport, the pilot is believed to have made two mayday calls.
Investigators who arrived at the scene on Tuesday will examine closely the site and wreckage, gathering recorded data including radio and radar, and interviewing witnesses.
The pilot's distress call is expected to form a significant part of the investigation, police assistant commissioner Stephen Leane said.
Authorities are yet to confirm details of fatalities including the identity and nationality of who was on the plane, however the Herald Sun reports aviation sources are paying tribute to Max Quartermain, who they believe was piloting the plane when it went down.
Mr Quartermain owns Essendon-based Corporate and Leisure Aviation and has more than 38 years of experience.
#EXCLUSIVE: Final moments before a light plane crashes into Essendon's #DFO, killing all on board.
— 10 News First (@10NewsFirst) February 21, 2017
READ: https://t.co/oTu4fwZDwo #TenNews pic.twitter.com/mvVL84sIy2
The charter plane was believed to be heading to Tasmania's King Island. Confirming multiple deaths, Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews said the crash was "the worst civil aviation incident in the state in 30 years".
"Today is a desperately sad day," he said.
Police assistant commissioner Stephen Leane confirmed only those who were on the flight - four passengers and the pilot - were harmed.
"There were five people on the aeroplane. It looks like nobody survived the crash," he said.
It has been reported the four passengers were American tourists, headed to the Tasmanian island on a golf trip. The man flying the plane was reportedly an experienced pilot in his 60s.
A spokesperson for the US embassy told news.com.au it was unable to confirm the nationality or identity of any of the plane crash victims.
"We extend our deepest condolences to the families and loved ones of all those who died in today's tragic crash," the spokesperson said.
"The US embassy in Melbourne and Canberra is working closely with local authorities to assist in any way possible."
Mr Leane said authorities were in the process of contacting families the victims, and would release further details about those on the plane "as soon as we can".
As authorities confirm the death, a chilling frame has been published showing the aircraft in its final moments.
The scene currently from the air over DFO near ESSENDON AIRPORT aircraft collision #Essendon pic.twitter.com/aSNLKObmmJ
— Jimmy Traffic (@JimmyTraffic) February 20, 2017
The image of the plane crash, part of a video to be broadcast by Network Ten, shows the plane flying low over the shopping centre moments before it nosedived into the building, landing in the complex's carpark.
Victorian Police Minister Lisa Neville described the crash as a "very tragic accident" and assured a full suite of emergency services were in force after the incident.
Ambulance Victoria has confirmed it was not its aircraft, despite earlier reports.
Victoria Police worked to evacuate the area surrounding the crash site and have advised people to avoid the location.
During his press conference, the Premier singled out Ambulance Victoria paramedics who responded to the crash.
"Ambulance Victoria always serve us well but this has special resonance because, for a period of time, there were reports that the plane was an Ambulance Victoria plane. Of course, that is not the case. This was a private charter. Nothing to do with the Victorian government or Ambulance Victoria," he said.
He also thanked police and 90 firefighters who had done and "equally outstanding job" in what was "a very intense, nasty fire".
King Island sits off the northwestern tip of the state's main island, and has become an attractive destination for golfers, housing the two best public golf courses in the nation, Cape Wickham and Ocean Dunes.
It has been reported the group was due to arrive at one of the island's courses on Tuesday morning.
A spokeswoman for Cape Wickham Golf Course said all its golfers "have actually turned up for the day", while an Ocean Dunes staff member said there was "no comment to be made".
The Beechcraft Super King aircraft was just seconds into its flight when it came in low and fast and hit the complex's homemaker centre at the rear of the shopping centre. It is understood one of the plane's twin engines failed after takeoff with police saying the cause of the crash was likely "catastrophic engine failure".
'I SAW THIS HUGE EXPLOSION'
Witnesses reported a loud and fiery explosion as the aircraft crashed into the shopping centre, and plumes of thick smoke can still be seen coming from the scene.
One cafe operator who was inside the DFO complex told news.com.au the crash occurred at the rear of the complex's Spotlight store.
Emergency services have closed the shopping centre and are not allowing anyone to enter.
A second business owner said she saw the crash from the freeway on her way to work.
"I actually saw the explosion. I was coming off the freeway and I saw this huge explosion," she said.
"There were flames coming out of the roof and all this black smoke."
The business owner said the aircraft did not make it far.
She said the crash occurred right near the neighbouring Essendon Airport runway.
"They are not letting anyone in at the moment," she said.
"I haven't heard anything, so I'm just wondering whether to start up or not."
Flight path of the aircraft. Possibly catastrophic engine failure.
— Matty DT (@mattydt) February 20, 2017
Whatever happened, it happened very quickly. #Essendon pic.twitter.com/gJE2TIPLvc
Only skeleton staff were present at the time of the crash as stores were not due to open until 10am.
All spotlight staff had been accounted for.
DFO has released a statement advising that the complex would stay closed after the incident.
"DFO Essendon is currently closed, after an incident in which a light plane crashed into the rear of the Homemaker Centre this morning. The centre was not open at the time," it said.
Witnesses have described the horrific scene from the freeway and surrounding roads.
"There is constant explosions going off, there is black smoke billowing into the sky," one caller told 3AW on Tuesday.
Another witness, Paul, said the scene was "like the vision you see of an atomic bomb".
"Just a ball of flame going up in the air," he said. "It was just surreal to see it happening right next to you."
ABC radio caller Jason was in a taxi when he looked out the window and saw what he thought was a twin-propeller plane, AAP reports.
"I saw this plane coming in really low and fast. It went just behind the barriers so I couldn't see the impact but when it hit the building there was a massive fireball," he told ABC 774.
"I could feel the heat through the window of the taxi, and then a wheel - it looked like a plane wheel - bounced on the road and hit the front of the taxi as we were driving along.
"We kept driving and there was big fireball behind us."
WHAT WENT WRONG?
A Channel Nine chopper pilot said the plane made two mayday calls before it went down and that it "cartwheeled" off the roof of the stores.
The five-person Beechcraft airport was a charter plane believed heading to Tasmania's King Island.
Victorian Police Minister Lisa Neville described the crash as a "very tragic accident" and assured a full suite of emergency services were in force after the incident.
Ambulance Victoria has confirmed it was not its aircraft, despite earlier reports.
Victoria Police worked to evacuate the area surrounding the crash site and have advised people to avoid the location.
During his press conference, the Premier singled out Ambulance Victoria paramedics who responded to the crash.
"Ambulance Victoria always serve us well but this has special resonance because, for a period of time, there were reports that the plane was an Ambulance Victoria plane. Of course, that is not the case. This was a private charter. Nothing to do with the Victorian government or Ambulance Victoria," he said.
He also thanked police and 90 firefighters who had done and "equally outstanding job" in what was "a very intense, nasty fire".
Essendon Airport has been closed.
Describing the incident as a "catastrophic event", Victoria's emergency management commissioner Craig Lapsley said it was unknown how long it would stay closed.
"We are trying to work through now to understand exactly what that means for the number of aircraft that fly in and out of Essendon," he said.
Tullamarine Freeway would also remain closed for a number of hours, Mr Lapsley said.
While no other people aside from those killed on the plane were seriously injured, Mr Lapsley said Ambulance Victoria had dealt with a number of people with concerns about shock and trauma.
Horrific scenes from Essendon. Hard to fathom such an ordinary morning could turn so tragic.
— Bill Shorten (@billshortenmp) February 20, 2017
INVESTIGATION TO BE LAUNCHED
The Australian Transport Safety Bureau (ATSB) has launched an investigation into the collision.
The bureau said in a statement it had deployed a team of four investigators.
"The ATSB ... are expected to arrive on site this afternoon," the statement said.
"The investigators will assume responsibility for the secured site, once it has been made safe."
The investigation will involve examining the site and wreckage, gathering recorded data including radio and radar, and interviewing witnesses.
The pilot's distress call is expected to form a significant part of the investigation, police assistant commissioner Stephen Leane said.
The aircraft crash has caused significant damage to the building.
A reporter at the scene described the part of the building where the aircraft hit as completely blackened. The crash left a blackened hole in the DFO building where the roof had caved in, in addition to other damage.
Fire inside the complex obstructed emergency crews' access to some parts of the shopping centre earlier today.
Witnesses and media said the smell of smoke and burning materials was still strong in the air outside the exclusion zone where they were stationed on the other side of the freeway from the centre.
The crash has thrown Melbourne traffic into chaos with part of the Tullamarine Freeway still closed. Debris from the crash scattered along nearby roads led to extended road closures.
A wheel from the plane left on the freeway is believed to have delayed emergency services from reaching the scene.
Motorists are being advised to exit early and avoid the area.
"Expect heavy delays on all detours," VicRoads warned.
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