It's being called the worst plane crash in Victoria in the past 30 years.
Crews putt out a blaze from a light aircraft which exploded as it smashed into a shopping centre near Melbourne. Photo: AFP / METROPOLITAN FIRE BRIGADE MEDIA
Five people died yesterday morning when their charter plane suffered catastrophic engine failure on takeoff and ploughed into a popular shopping centre near Melbourne's Essendon airport.
Victorian authorities are sifting through the scene to find evidence of what went wrong and all fuel stored at Essendon Airport in Melbourne's north-west has now been quarantined as part of the investigation.
Essendon Airport will be closed again today while investigators scour the crash site.
Victoria's Premier Daniel Andrews says yesterday was a desperately sad day for the entire state.
The Assistant Police Commissioner Stephen Leane says they're thankful the crash wasn't a lot worse.
Reporter Liam Mannix has been covering the tragedy for The Age and says the Australian Transport Safety Bureau has already sent four investigtors to the crash site.
