A small twin-engine Beech F90 King Air aircraft crashed in São Paulo, Brazil, on Friday morning, killing both pilots and injuring several others.
São Paulo plane crash: Here are the latest updates
The crash took place at 07:20 local time (12:20 SAST) on Marquês de São Vicente Avenue in the Barra Funda district, a major roadway in the city.
According to reports, the aircraft had departed from Campo de Marte Airport and was en route to Porto Alegre, a city in southern Brazil, when it lost contact with air traffic control minutes after takeoff.
Eyewitnesses reported seeing the plane clipping a tree before slamming into vehicles on the road, including a public bus, sparking a massive explosion.
The fire engulfed both the aircraft and part of the bus, sending thick plumes of smoke into the air.
Firefighters and emergency crews rushed to the scene to extinguish the flames and assist the injured.
Officials confirmed that a motorcyclist and a woman on the bus were injured by debris from the explosion and taken to the hospital. Four other people sustained minor injuries but did not require hospitalisation.
Brazilian aviation authorities and local law enforcement have launched an investigation into the cause of the crash.
While mechanical failure has not been ruled out, investigators will also examine whether weather conditions or human error played a role in the incident.
São Paulo authorities temporarily closed Marquês de São Vicente Avenue to facilitate rescue and cleanup efforts.
As investigations continue, officials say further details, including information on the plane’s final moments, will be released in the coming days.