Two survive plane crash near WA school

Eyewitnesses say two men ran out of the wreckage of a light plane crash in Perth's southern suburbs, covered in blood and with their clothes on fire.

wreckage from a light plane crash, Perth, Monday, Dec. 9, 2013

Two people have somehow survived a light plane crash during an emergency landing in Perth. (AAP)

Two men have survived a light plane crash on an oval just yards from a Perth high school, running bleeding from the wreckage with their clothes on fire.

Eye-witness Damien Burgess said the plane clipped power lines on Berrigan Drive, South Lake, then smashed into football goalposts as it came down onto a public oval near Elderberry Drive.

The plane then crashed, breaking up and bursting into flames on impact.

Mr Burgess said the plane "basically exploded" onto the oval, which is next to Lakeland Senior High School.

It "skidded about half the footy pitch then stopped, then two guys ran out clothes on fire, lots of cuts and pretty badly hurt but alive," he said on Facebook.

"One of the craziest things I've ever seen.

"Dudes were pretty banged up."

Another eyewitness said the men were covered in blood.

St John's Ambulance and fire authorities scrambled to the scene.

Both men have been taken to Royal Perth Hospital for treatment to burns and other injuries, one via the RAC Rescue helicopter and the other via ambulance.

One is believed to be aged in his 40s, while the other in his 50s.

Police said the plane experienced engine trouble shortly after take-off from Jandakot Airport at about 2.30pm (WST).

It appeared the pilot had sought open space for an emergency landing.

The oval has been cordoned off by police, and the area is deemed to be hazardous.

The Department of Education said neither the school, nor any students, had been affected.

Had the crash occurred half an hour later, there would have likely been many students on the oval.


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Source: AAP


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