Germany plane crash leaves pilot dead

A small aircraft crashed shortly after takeoff in Germany, killing the pilot, according to a report by Spiegel citing local law enforcement authorities.

The incident occurred near Hatten airfield, located south of the city of Oldenburg. Police said the plane went down almost immediately after takeoff and was completely destroyed on impact.

The pilot, who was the sole occupant of the aircraft, died at the scene. Preliminary information indicates he was around 70 years old and was en route to Switzerland, where he resided.

The cause of the crash remains unknown. Authorities, including local police and Germany’s Federal Bureau of Aircraft Accident Investigation (BFU), have launched an investigation.

Approximately 50 emergency responders were deployed to the site. Firefighters worked to extinguish a blaze caused by the crash.

Police also reported that the aircraft’s emergency parachute system failed to deploy. A pyrotechnic charge designed to activate the parachute was later safely defused by specialists from the federal police.

By Tamilla Hasanova