The aircraft was flying towards Juhu airport when it crashed near Ghatkopar

Five people were killed as a chartered plane crashed in an open area in Mumbai's Ghatkopar area on Thursday. The dead include two pilots, two aircraft maintenance engineers on board and one person on ground, director general of civil aviation (DGCA) said.

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 accident. The Aircraft Accident Investigation Bureau will conduct a detailed probe into the crash.

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. It was sold off after it met an accident in Allahabad in the past.

The Beechcraft King Air C90 is a twin-turboprop light utility aircraft

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

The Uttar Pradesh government in a statement has clarified that the chartered plane which has crashed was sold to Mumbai's UY Aviation.

"The deal was done after the plane had met with an accident in Allahabad," UP's Principal Secretary (Information) Avnish Awasthi said.

The plane crashed at Old Malik Estate near telephone exchange on Jeev Saya Lane in Ghatkopar.

It had a capacity of carrying 12 passengers. It is learnt that a total of four people were on board the ill-fated aircraft, all of whom died in the accident.