The light plane carrying five people that smashed into the shopping complex next to Essendon Airport and exploded into flames this morning was operated by the Essendon-based Corporate and Leisure Aviation.

It is unknown whether regular pilot and company owner Max Quartermain was at the controls at the time of the crash.

​The company's website states that Mr Quartermain was the holder of an Air Operations Certificate for more than 38 years and had an "impeccable safety record". The company declined to comment on who was piloting the plane at the time of the crash.

RELATED CONTENT

Two bodies have been pulled from the wreckage. There have been no reports of injuries from people on the ground.

The plane, understood to be chartered for a golf trip to King Island, took off and got to about 30 metres before veering left and crashing into the centre. Police suspect "catastrophic engine failure".

The pilot of the plane, who has not been identified, made two mayday calls before impact.

A witness, Ross Barker, told Channel 9 he saw the plane clip the centre's roof, cartwheel, and then smash through the centre's southern wall. The wreckage ended up in the centre's loading bay and caught fire.

An Ambulance Victoria spokeswoman said "we assessed some people at the scene but we haven't treated or transported anybody".

"The people that we assessed were on the ground."

Firefighters took more than 90 minutes to control the blaze before finally putting it out about 10.30am, an MFB spokeswoman said.

A spokesman for the company said they were unable to make any comment until they had received confirmation from Victoria Police.

The Tullamarine freeway was closed so investigators could preserve debris that landed on the road.

More to come.

This is an extract of a story that first appeared in The Sydney Morning Herald.