Two dead after plane crashes near school in Canley Vale

TWO people died and five children were injured after a plane crashed and burst into flames near a primary school in southwest Sydney.

Two people are feared dead after a plane crashed near a primary school in Sydney. Picture: Adam Taylor

TWO people have been killed in a light plane crash in Sydney's southwest this morning, with the aircraft coming down just a few metres from the front entrance of a primary school.

The pilot and the co-pilot died instantly when their plane exploded on the busy Canley Vale Road in Canley Vale at about 8.10am. Seven people on the ground were taken to hospital with minor injuries and shock.

Witnesses said the plane was clearly in trouble just before it crashed.

Sam Elawar said he heard the engine spluttering before seeing the plane's wing clip power lines and burst into flames.

"It was unsteady, it was swinging all over the place. Then it hit a power pole and I saw an explosion and flames and then it crashed," he said.

"There were kids around, walking to school, and I made sure they kept away from the crash site."

The plane took off from Bankstown airport at 7.50am. But within minutes, the pilots made a mayday call, reporting serious engine trouble. They were cleared to return to Bankstown airport but crashed at 8.10am, a few hundred metres from the airstrip.

The crash site is adjacent to a large playing field, which has prompted speculation that the pair were trying to land the plane away from residential homes.

Police superintendent Ray King said it was "chaos" on the ground when the plane crashed.

A car carrying a man and three children caught alight after it was hit with burning debris.

The man and the children were not seriously hurt.

Supt King said the cause of the crash was being investigated.

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