Three dead as light aircraft crashes in western Germany

Three people were killed when a light aircraft crashed into a field near Erkelenz in western Germany on the morning of September 14, police said.

The Cessna crashed near the village of Erkelenz-Gerderath at about 11.20am local time, according to police in the Heinsberg district. All three people on board died.

The aircraft was completely destroyed in the crash, with photographs from the scene showing the wreckage on the edge of a field near several trees, Welt reports.

Police and firefighters were at the crash site at midday. The Federal Bureau of Aircraft Accident Investigation was travelling to the scene to investigate the circumstances and cause of the crash.

Police said further details about the people on board and how the crash happened were not immediately known.

By Aghakazim Guliyev