UPDATE:
Victoria Police have confirmed there were no survivors after a chartered flight carrying five people crashed this morning in Melbourne.
The plane, owned by Myjet, had been hired by Corporate and Leisure Travel, a company owned by Max Quartermain, who is believed to have been the pilot.
The US embassy was unable to confirm any details about the identities or nationalities of the victims but extended its deepest condolences to their families and loved ones.
The US consulate in Melbourne is working with local authorities who were reluctant to confirm who was on the plane as family members were being contacted.
"Investigations are taking place and the emergency is still unfolding at Essendon fields as we speak," says Assistant Commissioner Stephen Leane, adding that catastrophic engine failure was behind the crash.
EARLIER:
A five-person passenger aircraft, a charter plane heading to King Island crashed near Melbourne's Essendon airport on Tuesday morning.
Police, firefighters and paramedics are on the scene at the Essendon airfield after the plane crashed about 9am.
Victoria's Police Minister Lisa Neville confirmed there were five people on board the plane when it crashed.
So far the Police has not confirmed about the casualties.
"I heard an explosion and there was black smoke billowing into the sky," a taxi driver stuck in the jam told SBS Hindi on Tuesday.
Several others have posted about the smoke witnessed from the side of the DFO building.
UPDATE: Five people believed to be on board light aircraft that has crashed next to Essendon Airport. https://t.co/ciVSmGPEeI #7News pic.twitter.com/MrVMTcSEOn — 7 News Melbourne (@7NewsMelbourne) February 20, 2017
More details awaited. Watch this space.
Follow SBS Hindi's Facebook Page for latest news and updates.
