2 dead as light plane crashes near Sydney school

SYDNEY, Australia—A light plane crashed and exploded just meters (yards) from a Sydney school on Tuesday, killing at least two people on board and leaving passersby in shock.

Several cars were damaged and one driver ferrying children had to take evasive action as the plane came down in a busy street, ploughed through a power pole and burst into flames.

"Miraculously, no homes were damaged or the nearby school," police Superintendent Ray King told reporters, adding that it was not yet possible to confirm how many people were on board the gutted plane.

"At this stage we believe at least two people were on board," he said.

Five people were treated for shock, including schoolchildren who witnessed the crash and the motorist who maneuvered to avoid the plummeting plane.

"The car (driver) saw the aircraft about to crash and stopped to evade any further damage to the car," King said. "There was debris scattered everywhere, some of that debris damaged the car."

Western Sydney's Canley Vale Public School and nearby homes were evacuated after the crash at 8:10 a.m., which was shortly before the school was due to open.

"We're enormously grateful this didn't happen half-an-hour later and in the middle of the playground," the primary school's principal, Cheryl McBride, told public broadcaster ABC.

"We can't believe just how fortunate we have been."

Resident Kevin Huynh, 33, leaped over the fence between his home and the school to avoid the fireball as the wreckage exploded in front of his house.

"The whole front of my place was on fire," Huynh told Australian Associated Press. "As I jumped the fence, I heard a second big explosion. I was pretty lucky to escape."

Other residents thought the crash sounded like a bomb going off.

"There was black smoke everywhere and a really strong smell of gasoline," said Leo Lovito, 30. "It's very lucky it didn't hit the school."

The crash triggered a major power outage, affecting thousands of homes and knocking out the traffic lights on nearby commuter highways.

Superintendent King said the downed craft was a hired plane which took off about 20 minutes before the crash. Police and transport officials were now investigating, he said.

Source: Inquirer