At least two people have been killed after a small aircraft crashed onto a busy motorway in Germany and burst into flames, sending thick smoke into the air.
The aircraft came down on the A2 motorway between Burg and Krähenberge, northeast of Magdeburg, shortly before 3pm on Friday, in the state of Saxony-Anhalt.
According to German media outlet Bild, rescue workers recovered the bodies of two people from the wreckage.
“The aircraft burst into flames during the crash. According to current information, two occupants were recovered dead by rescue workers,” authorities were quoted as saying.
Dramatic footage circulating on social media showed the aircraft engulfed in flames as emergency crews rushed to the scene.
Despite the crash occurring on a busy stretch of motorway, initial reports indicated that no other vehicles were involved.
Firefighters, police and other emergency personnel remained at the scene for several hours as they dealt with the wreckage and began investigating the circumstances surrounding the tragedy.
The motorway’s carriageway towards Hanover was closed to allow rescue operations and investigations to proceed.
Authorities also provided support to witnesses who had seen the aircraft crash.
Flight-tracking data reportedly identified the aircraft as a two-seater plane registered to an air sports club in Kropp.
Local media reported that it had taken off from the club’s airfield in Schleswig at 12.33pm before making a turn and crashing onto the motorway.
An investigation has been launched to establish what caused the aircraft to go down.
