Pilot, 4 U. S. tourists killed in Australia plane crash

Four American tourists and an Australian pilot were killed Tuesday when a small plane crashed into a shopping mall shortly after takeoff in the Australian city of Melbourne.

The pilot reported a “catastrophic engine failure” moments before the crash, police said.

The U. S. Embassy in Australia confirmed that four Americans were killed.

“The U. S. Embassy in Canberra and U. S. Consulate in Melbourne are working closely with local authorities. We stand ready to provide all appropriate consular assistance to the families of the victims,” an embassy statement said.

Greg Reynolds De Haven and Russell Munsch, both from Texas, were identified as victims by their families on social media.

Denelle Wicht, De Haven’s sister, posted on Facebook: "Dear friends and family, my handsome athletic big brother was killed today in a plane accident while on his ' once in a lifetime' trip to Australia."

Max Quartermain, the owner of the charter company Corpo- rate and Leisure Travel, was the pilot, the Associated Press reported.

Victoria's Premier, Daniel Andrews, said the crash was the state's worst aviation accident in 30 years, according to Sky News Australia.

The twin- engine Beechcraft Super King Air had taken off from Melbourne’s second- biggest airport in the suburb of Essendon for a golfing trip to King Island, 160 miles southward in Tasmania, officials said.

It crashed into the Direct Factory Outlet mall that adjoins the airport about 45 minutes before the shopping center was supposed to open, Police Minister Lisa Neville said.

AP This image made from video shows the site of a plane crash at Essendon Airport in Melbourne, Australia Tuesday.