A small plane crashed into a building in the Brazilian city of Belo Horizonte on Monday afternoon, killing two people and injuring three others. The aircraft, a single-engine Embraer EMB-721C built in 1979, came down shortly after take-off from Pampulha Airport.
The pilot and co-pilot were killed in the crash, while three passengers were seriously injured and taken to Joao XXIII Hospital, according to the local fire department. The plane was bound for Sao Paulo when it crashed into a three-storey building in the Silveira neighbourhood.
The pilot had reportedly told air traffic control that he was experiencing difficulties during take-off. Emergency services arrived at the scene at 12.25pm local time, nine minutes after the crash was reported. Residents described hearing the aircraft flying unusually low before the impact.
One resident, Fabiana Parreiras, said she saw the plane veer away from her building and immediately feared an accident. Another, Guilherme Lima, said his dog became agitated before he learned of the crash on television. The Brazilian Air Force has deployed investigators to establish the cause, and civil police in Minas Gerais have opened an inquiry.
