Trump prays for Aust plane crash families

US President Donald Trump's thoughts and prayers are with the families of the five victims of the Melbourne plane crash.

Four American tourists and the Australian pilot were killed when it crashed into Essendon's Direct Factory Outlet on Tuesday.

"First off I want to acknowledge the tragic plane crash that occurred in Australia that took the lives of five individuals, including four Americans," White House spokesman Sean Spicer, at the start of Tuesday's press conference, told reporters.

"The president's thoughts and prayers are with the families of the victims and the US embassy and consulate are ready to provide necessary and appropriate assistance."

The four Americans were on a golf trip around Australia and were flying to King Island for their next game, but the chartered Beechcraft King Air crashed into the outlet centre shortly after taking off from Essendon Airport.