![\"plane-crashes1\"](\"http:\/\/en.bornomalanews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2017\/02\/plane-crashes1-300x169.jpg\")
International Desk: A light aircraft smashed into shops and exploded into a \u201cmassive fireball\u201d killing all five on board, including four American passengers reportedly golfers on the trip of a lifetime, officials in Australia said yesterday, repots AFP.The twin-engined Beechcraft plane veered just after take-off into a shopping centre, that was still closed, next to Essendon Fields airport near Melbourne.<\/p>\n
\u201cFive on the aircraft and looks like no one has survived the crash,\u201d said Victoria Police Assistant Commissioner Stephen Leane.<\/p>\n
Premier Daniel Andrews described it as \u201cthe worst civil aviation accident that our state has seen for 30 years\u201d.<\/p>\n
The private charter from Essendon, north of Melbourne, to King Island, 55 minutes to the south, came down just short of a major motorway packed with the heavy traffic of early morning commuters.<\/p>\n
Live television footage showed burned out wreckage, flames and major damage at the shopping centre and adjacent buildings.<\/p>\n
A column of thick black smoke rose into the air as witnesses spoke of an explosion.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe pilot unfortunately attempted to return to Essendon but has crashed into the DFO (Direct Factory Outlet) at Essendon Fields,\u201d Leane told reporters.<\/p>\n
The centre was not due to open for another hour and the authorities confirmed no one inside was hurt.<\/p>\n
A taxi driver called ABC radio and told of the \u201cmassive fireball\u201d and a landing wheel bouncing onto the motorway.<\/p>\n
\u201cI saw this plane… when it hit the building there was a massive fireball,\u201d said the man called Jason.<\/p>\n
\u201cI could feel the heat through the window of the taxi, and then a wheel\u2014it looked like a plane wheel\u2014bounced on the road and hit the front of the taxi as we were driving along.\u201d<\/p>\n
Victoria Police Superintendent Mick Frewen said investigations centred on a \u201ccatastrophic engine failure\u201d.<\/p>\n
The highly experienced 60-year-old Australian pilot made a May-Day call before crashing. A shopworker called Ash told Sky News he saw \u201cthe fireball go up into the air\u201d, adding it \u201cfelt like a bomb had gone off\u201d.<\/p>\n
\u201cThe fire was just so hot we could not get anywhere near it,\u201d he said. \u201cWe could see the wreckage, or what was left of it.\u201d<\/p>\n
The US embassy in Canberra said the four passengers were American citizens.<\/p>\n
\u201cWe extend our deepest condolences to the families and loved ones of those who died in today\u2019s tragic crash,\u201d a spokeswoman said.<\/p>\n
Melbourne\u2019s Herald Sun identified two of the dead as Greg De Haven, 70, a retired FBI agent and lawyer Russell Munsch, both from Texas, who were travelling with two unnamed friends, the daily said. Plumber Michael Howard, 29, told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation he saw a \u201cblue flash\u201d.<\/p>\n
\u201cI was… just looking out the window… and then all of a sudden I just saw a blue flash come down and then all of a sudden there was a massive fireball.\u201d \u201cIt was like something from a movie,\u201d Howard said.<\/p>\n
Melbourne fire brigade chief Paul Stacchino tweeted that \u201cmore than 60 firefighters have worked hard to bring the fire… under control. Crews to remain on scene for some time\u201d.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
International Desk: A light aircraft smashed into shops and exploded into a \u201cmassive fireball\u201d killing all five on board, including four American passengers reportedly golfers on the trip of a lifetime, officials in Australia said yesterday, repots AFP.The twin-engined Beechcraft plane veered just after take-off into a shopping centre, that was still closed, next to […]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":7,"featured_media":30921,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":[],"categories":[14],"tags":[],"yoast_head":"\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\n\t\n\t\n\n\n\t\n