Light plane crashes southwest of Melbourne

The pilot made an emergency landing nearby in Connewarre, police said. 

Paramedics treated 17 people at the scene, including the pilot, with five patients needing to be taken to hospital with non-life threatening injuries.

The Country Fire Authority also responded to the incident, which was deemed under control about 8.40am. 

Investigations into the circumstances of the incident remain ongoing, a police spokesman told AAP.