Firefighters on scene of Essendon DFO plane crash

PICTURE SPECIAL: THE first images have emerged of the shocking scenes facing firefighters at Essendon airport.

THE first images have emerged of the shocking scenes facing firefighters at Essendon airport.

A fireball erupted this morning when a plane carrying five people crashed into the DFO shopping complex just before 9am.

The private charter plane was taking off on its journey to King Island when it called in a mayday, before striking the DFO building near Spotlight.

Herald Sun photographers Ian Currie, Mark Wilson and Jason Edwards captured the scenes as fire crews wearing masks worked to bring the blaze under control.

More: Plane crashes into shops, explodes

‘It was an enormous fireball’

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PATRICK CARLYON: RESIDENTS RECALL AIRFIELD’S GRIM PAST

CRASH PILOT ALREADY UNDER INVESTIGATION

GOLFERS NAMED AS PLANE CRASH VICTIMS

DOOMED ESSENDON DFO PLANE GONE IN 60 SECONDS

One of the aircraft’s wheels on the Tullamarine Freeway. Picture: Mark Wilson

Police photograph one of the aircraft’s wheels lying on the freeway. Picture: Mark Wilson

An aerial view of the crash site. Photo: David Caird

Fire Crews douse what looks like to be the fuselage. Picture: Jason Edwards

Firefighters on the scene at DFO. Picture: Jason Edwards

Firefighters are confronted with the wreckage. Picture: Jason Edwards

Five people were killed in the crash. Picture: Jason Edwards

Firefighters sift through the wreckage. Picture: Jason Edwards

The wreckage at the Essendon shopping centre. Picture: Ian Currie

A car destroyed in the explosion. Picture: Jason Edwards

Wreckage at the site of the crash. Picture: Mark Wilson

A close-up of the damage to the store. Picture: Mark Wilson

Firefighters on the scene. Picture: Ian Currie

The plane hit Spotlight and Focus on Furniture stores. Picture: Ian Currie

The schens at the site of the light plane crash. Picture: Ian Currie

Light plane crash into DFO at Essendon Airport. Picture: Ian Currie

Paramedics on the scene. Picture: Mark Wilson

Police talk with Spotlight employees. Picture: Ian Currie

A fire truck scans the damage. Picture: Ian Currie

An aerial picture shows the proximity of the shopping centre to the airport. Picture: David Caird

Police set up a roadblock. Picture: Ian Currie