Several people were killed in Melbourne, Australia on Monday morning when a plane crashed into a shopping mall.
The chartered flight had taken off from Melbourne’s Essendon airport Tuesday morning and was headed to King Island, an island located between the south shore of Australia and the island of Tasmania. According to the New York Times, a pilot aboard the plane reported a “catastrophic engine failure” moments before the crash. However, Victoria Minister for Victoria Police, Lisa Neville said the details surrounding the crash are still “being confirmed by police and fire services.” Reuters, a London based news agency, reported that the Australian Transport Safety Bureau will investigate the crash.
All five individuals aboard the aircraft were killed in the crash. The names and nationalities of the deceased were not released as of Monday night. However, in response to a report that the individuals were U.S. citizens, the U.S. Embassy in Canberra, while declining to comment, said it was working with local authorities.
A statement released by the Embassy said, “We are unable to confirm any details about the nationality or identity of any of the victims. The U.S. Embassy in Canberra and the consulate in Melbourne are working closely with local authorities to assist in any way possible.” The statement also extended their “…deepest condolences to the families and loved ones of all those who died in today’s tragic crash.”
The plane, described by the New York Times as a “twin-engine Beechcraft Super King Air” crashed into a storage area in the back of the Direct Factory Outlet Mall. According to Reuters, witnesses at the scene stated the plane exploded upon impact. Firefighters, paramedics, and police were rushed to the scene of the crash, where the flames were extinguished. Both the roof and infrastructure of the mall were damaged.
The connects to the airport where the plane crashed near the end of the runway. The mall was set to open about an hour before the crash occurred. This was somewhat fortunate as no one on the ground sustained any injuries, according to assistant commissioner of Victoria police, Stephen Leane. He stated, “…certainly if we look at the circumstances, we’ve been very lucky…” based on “…the time of day and who was around.” Leane also said, “it was a catastrophic plane crash…”
While flights in and out of Australia’s main airport were unaffected, the Essendon airport, where the crash occurred, remained closed as of Monday night. Additionally, parts of the Tullamarine Freeway remained closed for part of the day Monday as there was a significant amount of scattered debris as a result of the crash.
In a CNN article, Neville said she expects authorities to have updates on the personal identities of the deceased shortly.