'Like bomb going off': Impact of Melbourne's worst plane disaster in 30 years

Witnesses described the shockwave felt after the plane crashed into the shopping centre. 

 Melbourne’s worst aviation disaster in 30 years has claimed the lives of five people. VIDEO Essendon plane crash: Five killed after plane crashes into DFO.  The plane was carrying four American tourists when it slammed into the Essendon DFO, metres from the busy Tullamarine Freeway, and exploded in a fireball. Pilot Max Quartermain, and US citizens Greg Reynolds De Haven, Russell Munsch, Glenn Garland and a fourth American whose identity is not yet known, were all on board the Beechcraft Super King Air twin-engine aircraft. Dash cam captured the horrific moment on impact taken minutes after the plane’s take off.Witnesses described the shockwave felt after the plane crashed into the shopping centre.

Flames and smoke were seen leaving the outlet centre's roof, as a blazing inferno engulfed the aircraft.

Those on their morning commute could not believe what was happening in front of them.

Victorian Police Minister Lisa Neville has confirmed that five passengers were onboard the plane.

“I saw the plane taking of and it was stable about 20-30m off the airport. From there it started turning left and after that it started going a little bit down and then slid on the roof and then straight on to the floor,” Delivery driver Daniel Stangherlin said.

“From there an explosion and a fire… that’s it and bang after more explosions.”

Five on board the plane were killed on impact. Photo: 7 News.

Dozens of fire crews rushed to the scene as soon as news of the crash broke, tasked to battle the blaze.

Initially it was unclear if anyone was in the wreckage of burnt out cars.

It was quickly confirmed the only victims were those onboard the plane.

The damage at the back of the DFO building where the plane hit. Source: AAP

Pilot Max Quartermain and his four passengers were heading for a golf day on King Island.

Tragically, none of them stood a chance in the fiery crash aftermath.

VIDEO Pilot, passengers identified

The search for answers as to what went so tragically wrong began soon after the crash happened.

The plane took off from Essendon Airport just before 9am and it soon began banking to the left.

VIDEO Witnesses watch on in horror

How Tuesday’s plane crash happened:

1. Beechcraft King Air charter flight bound for King Island approaches runway of Essendon Airport.
2. The plane rose about 30m before putting out two mayday calls.
3. The plane’s engine failed resulting in the aircraft crashing into the DFO shopping centre building.
4. Five on board killed in the tragedy.

A car parked out the front of Spotlight was destroyed in the blaze.

The plane then rapidly began to dive, hitting the roof of the DFO before crashing into the carpark just metres from the road.

The shopping centre had yet to open for the day.

Mr Stangherlin rushed to help but there was nothing he could do at the scene.

VIDEO A light aircraft has crashed into the DFO shopping centre next to Essendon Airport in Melbourne with five people on board.

“I drove right to the back of the DFO to see if I could help someone," he said.

“I couldn’t do nothing, was too much smoke (sic)”.

Angelo Tsatas also saw the crash occur: “Saw the last second of the plane banking and it just hit, don’t think there was time to do anything,” he said.

VIDEO Questions raised over airstrip's safety

Grace Martin was only metres from the crash point getting her morning coffee.

“I just saw a plane come across its like wobbling, probably a metre from the roof above me,” she said.

“I then heard the bang and looked around and there was just flames and smoke everywhere.”

The crash force rocked the ground like an earthquake.

Spotlight employees comfort each other at the crash scene. Picture: AAP

Ash Mayer described it like a “shockwave”.

“We were just coming up the off ramp and the whole car shook, everything just shook.”

A mother ‘Margaret’ told 3AW she had just dropped her daughter at the very spot the wreck had landed.

VIDEO Aircraft crashes into DFO shopping centre near Essendon Airport. Source: Facebook

“If they had of been just that few minutes earlier it would have cleaned all of us up,” she said.

Spotlight staff said it was a miracle none of their workers were hurt in the tragedy.

“They were a little distressed of course as you would be if you were under a plane hitting a building,” Spotlight’s Grant Wheaton said.

The freeway was closed in both directions causing gridlock for kilometres.

Police believe engine failure was the cause of the catastrophic crash.

It’s possible the pilot realised he had no hope of return to the airfield and in a final heroic act made sure the plane didn’t crash onto the freeway.

'Hug your loved ones': Crash victims named

Two of the victims killed in the Essendon plane crash have been identified as Greg De Haven and Russell Munsch.

Relatives of Greg De Haven (left) and Russell Munsch (right) took to Facebook to share tributes of their loved ones.

Relatives of Mr De Haven and Mr Munsch took to Facebook to share tributes following news of the tragedy.

Both victims are reportedly from Texas, US.

It’s claimed Mr De Haven, 70, was a retired FBI agent and Mr Munsch was a founding partner of Munsch Hardt law firm.

Their US relatives identified both in Facebook posts.

Carol Holst, Mr Munsch’s cousin, shared a photo of her loved one online saying: "Russ was killed in a plane crash in Australia today."

"Hug your loved ones. You never know."

Denelle Wicht, the sister of Greg De Haven, said her brother was on a "once in a lifetime" trip to Australia.

“Dear friends and family, my handsome athletic big brother was killed today in a plane accident,” she wrote.

“It was a charter flight with 2 of his friends flying to another island to play golf.”

The US State Department has confirmed four of its citizens were aboard, travelling to King Island for a golf trip when the plane experienced "catastrophic engine failure" shortly after takeoff.

"We extend our deepest condolences to the families and loved ones of all those who died in today's tragic crash," a State Department official said, adding consulate officials would be on hand to assist.

"We stand ready to provide all appropriate consular assistance to the families of the victims.

"Out of respect for the privacy of the families, we have no further comment."

Max Quartermain, 63, has been reported as the owner of the charter plane. It's not confirmed whether he was flying the plane at the time. Photo: C&L Aviation.

Max Quartermain, 63, and his partner Cilla Quartermain own the company Corporate and Leisure Aviation along with the charter plane, with Mr Quartermain flying as pilot.

It’s reported Mr Quartermain has had an Air Operations Certificate for more than 30 years.

The plane nosedived into the DFO shopping centre on the Tullamarine Freeway in Melbourne's north. Source: Facebook

VIDEO ‘Catastrophic’: Five dead in Victoria's 'worst plane crash for 30 years'

Fire crew at the scene where a light plane crashed into the back of a DFO building at Essendon airport. Source: AAP

Witnesses said the plane clipped a JB Hi-Fi store before exploding in the adjacent Spotlight venue. Source: AAP

Crash sounded 'like a bomb going off'

7 News was told the freeway was "absolutely full" when the plane crashed about 9am this morning.

Witnesses described the impact of the crash sounding like "a bomb going off".

Spotlight employees comfort each other at the scene of the plane crash. Photo: AAP

Onlookers were left traumatised by what they saw and heard this morning.

Many rushed to help, the shopping centre was not open at the time. The crash occurred one hour before the DFO doors were due to open for the day.

The Tullamarine Freeway have since been reopened for traffic heading in both directions.

Melbourne's typically busy Tullamarine Freeway was closed for most of the day after the plane tragedy. Photo: AAP

Melbourne's Tullamarine Freeway was declared a crime scene as what appears to be one of the wheels from the plane came to rest on the roadway. Photo: AAP

Witnesses saw plane nosedive

Instagram user Lisahomegrown claimed she worked at Essendon Airport.

“This mornings accident has shaken me,” she wrote.

“I'm feeling very human, vulnerable and contemplative. I took this pic on my regular lunchtime walk and dfo is at the end of the runway.

“If the plane had taken off in the other direction my office could have been hit.

“Each work day I walk along the side of the runway, past many of the plane mechanic sheds and past the fuel depot. This is so awful.”