Saturday Nov 10 17:10 AEDT
Three German nationals have been killed in a light plane crash on to the Stuart Highway, north of Tennant Creek in the Northern Territory.
Police believe the pilot was trying to making an emergency landing on the highway when it crashed.
The charter plane was one of three planes in a group en route from Western Australia when it crashed about 20km north of Elliott just before 11am (CST).
The planes were travelling from Katherine to Kings Creek Station when the crash happened completely blocking the Stuart Highway.
Local police are directing traffic around the wreckage on the highway, the main road link between Alice Springs and Darwin.
While it originally appeared the plane had two occupants it was later confirmed three men were killed, all German nationals.
The other two planes in the group have landed at Tennant Creek and members of the group are being spoken to by police.
Emergency services, including police, fire and NT emergency services personnel are travelling to the scene, while the highway remains closed.
Police said the two lane highway around the crash had been reduced to one. Motorists have been advised to expect some delays for several hours until the wreckage is removed and preliminary investigations completed.
Motorists travelling from Queensland to the Northern Territory on the Stuart Highway should consider delaying their trip for about 24 hours, police said.