Asger Risom
Authorities are investigating engine failure as a possible cause.
A small aircraft crashed into a two-story home in the town of Kleinenbroich, western Germany, on Saturday morning, leaving at least two people dead. Local police confirmed that the incident occurred around 12:10 p.m. and resulted in a fire that was later brought under control.
The pilot, a 71-year-old woman, was confirmed dead at the scene. She had been operating a light sport aircraft en route to Mönchengladbach when the plane went down, striking the rear side of a detached residence.
The fire was extinguished around 1:15 p.m.
said Claudia Suthor, chief of police in the Neuss district, during a statement to local media.
Cause of crash under investigation
The aircraft reportedly experienced engine trouble shortly before the crash. While officials have not yet released a definitive cause, investigators are focusing on mechanical failure as a leading theory, according to Rheinische Post.
Emergency services responded quickly, and no residents of the house were reported among the fatalities. The extent of damage to the building has not been fully disclosed, though images from the scene show severe burn marks and structural damage to the rear of the property.
Authorities have launched an investigation to determine the exact sequence of events leading up to the crash.
As reported by 20minutos, aviation safety officials are expected to release further details as they assess the wreckage and flight path data.