Mumbai : Five people were killed and two injured as a chartered plane crashed in an open area in Mumbai’s Ghatkopar area on Thursday afternoon.

The dead include two pilots, two aircraft maintenance engineers (AME) on board and one person on ground, director general of civil aviation (DGCA) said.

The four people on board the plane who died in the crash have been identified as Captain PS Rajput, co-pilot Maria Zuberi, assistant maintenance engineer Surbhi and air technician Manish Panday. The identity of the pedestrian who was killed in the crash has not been ascertained.

The two injured are identified as Lavkush Kumar and Naresh Kumar Nishad.

The reason for the accident is not known at the moment. A team from the DGCA is on its way to Mumbai to conduct preliminary investigation into the accident. The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau will conduct a detailed probe into the crash.

Union Civil Aviation Minister Suresh Prabhu has expressed deep shock over the crash. He has directed concerned officials to rush to the accident spot in Mumbai and provide all possible assistance.

The dead include two pilots, two two aircraft maintenance engineers on board and one person on ground.
The aircraft has been identified as VT-UPZ, KING AIR C90. It belongs to UY Aviation, a Mumbai-based company. It was earlier owned by the Uttar Pradesh government and was sold off after it met an accident in Allahabad in the past.

Meanwhile, teams of fire brigade, along with police and ambulances, have been rushed to the spot and rescue operations have been initiated.