'Like bomb going off': Impact of Melbourne's worst plane disaster in 30 years
Melbourne’s worst aviation disaster in 30 years has claimed the lives of five people.
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.
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.
“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.”
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
“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.
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.
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.
“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 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, 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.
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".
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.
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.”
