EARLIER: Reports are emerging of a crash at Melbourne’s Essendon Airport, with early word suggesting that a light plane may have run off the runway.
@mmmhotbreakfast pic.twitter.com/Tc6Twy3e32
— Thomas Maggs (@Tsm042) February 20, 2017
Driving by a possible plane crash at #Essendon Airport and DFO pic.twitter.com/JpSCKbgxHN
— Belinda (@pelagonianprncs) February 20, 2017
**BREAKING** Reports that an Air Ambulance King Air has CRASHED near Runway 17 at ESSENDON AIRPORT pic.twitter.com/NzaBWzq8cX
— Jimmy Traffic (@JimmyTraffic) February 20, 2017
Details at the moment are sketchy, but initial reports from the scene are indicating that the vessel may have crashed into part of the neighbouring Essendon Fields DFO shopping outlet.
#BREAKING: An Air Ambulance has crashed into the DFO factory outlet near Essendon Airport in Melbourne. #TMS7 pic.twitter.com/uLJuGUumKu
— The Morning Show (@morningshowon7) February 20, 2017
#BREAKING: Horrific scenes in Victoria where an air ambulance has crashed into the DFO near Essendon Airport (Pic: 9News) pic.twitter.com/nF1efcfuIr
— Triple M Brisbane (@TripleMBrisbane) February 20, 2017
#BREAKING: Pictures show the wreckage of a light plane that crashed into buildings near Essendon Airport. pic.twitter.com/uQyabxXpj5
— Sky News Australia (@SkyNewsAust) February 20, 2017
No word yet of any potential injuries in the incident.
“The Tullamarine Freeway is closed in both directions between English Street and Bell Street.The Calder Freeway is closed in both directions between McNamara Avenue and Bell Street.
Bulla Road is closed at the Tullamarine Freeway including the entry ramp to the Tullamarine Freeway inbound.
Delay travel through the area and seek an alternative route.
VicRoads advises motorists to exit the Tullamarine Freeway as early as possible and keep away from the area.”
Meanwhile, police confirmed details of the incident, which occurred just prior to 9am:
“Emergency services are responding to a plane crash into a building near Bulla Road in Essendon Fields.It is believed the plane crashed just before 9am.
At this stage we do not have information regarding possible casualties and police are currently evacuating the area. The surrounding roads will be effected for some time.
We will bring you further information as it comes to hand.”
10:24am: The plane is now confirmed to have crashed into the Focus Furniture and JB Hi-Fi stores at the DFO. The stores were not open to customers at the time of the crash, however staff were inside. Both stores have been evacuated.
