An aircraft has crashed at Melbourne’s Essendon airport and into adjacent DFO shopping centre on fire. The accident happened shortly after take-off at 9am.

Five people were on board the Beechcraft charter flight bound for King Island. There are no reports yet on injuries or the fate of those on board. Witnesses say they say the plane come in fast and low before a fireball rose into the sky.

Victoria Police say they have not yet determined how many people were inside the DFO shopping complex when the crash occurred but it was still closed at the time.

An hour after the accident occurred firefighters are still battling flames inside the centre, with the storage area for furniture store believed to be alight.

The airport and adjacent Tullamarine Freeway, the main artery between the city and Melbourne’s main airport, has also been closed.

Police sat the outbound lanes towards Tullamarine have been reopened, but inbound lanes on the freeway will be closed for some time and motorists should find alternative routes.

There are reports that eyewitnesses some of the debris from the crash may have landed on the freeway.

VicRoads said the freeway is closed between English Street and McNamara Avenue. Motorists are being asked to exit the freeway as soon as possible. Bulla Road is also closed.

The Calder Freeway is also closed between Pascoe Vale Road and McNamara Avenue.

Police Minister Lisa Neville said it was too early to know whether there has been fatalities.

“It appears to be a very, very tragic accident that’s happened out there,” she said.

The plane involved is believed to be a Beechcraft B200 Super King Air, registration VH-ZCR.

The aircraft is registered to Australian Corporate Jet Centres, a charter company based at Essendon airport.

The Beechcraft King Air is a popular private aircraft flown by hobby pilots and charter services all over the world. The twin prop aircraft is known for being fast and stable, and the modern versions have sophisticated avionics.

Essendon’s DFO is a famed destination in Melbourne visited by thousands of shoppers every day, but does not open until 10am. It will remain closed until further notice.

Opposition leader Bill Shorten’s electorate is not far from the site.

The Air Transport Safety Bureau is investigating and appealing for witnesses.

Here are photos of the scene.

More to come.

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