A tragic aviation accident struck the town of Korschenbroich in western Germany on Saturday, when a small aircraft crashed into the rooftop terrace of a residential building, killing two people, according to local police.
The crash occurred near the city of Mönchengladbach, close to the Dutch border. Upon impact, the aircraft burst into flames, sending a plume of smoke visible from various parts of the area.
Authorities confirmed that two people died in the incident—one of them believed to be the pilot. According to the German news agency dpa, it remains unclear whether the second victim was inside the aircraft or on the ground at the time of the crash.
Local media reported that a police spokesperson stated the pilot was 71 years old, and his death was confirmed shortly after the accident. The second victim, a woman, has not yet been officially identified. Investigators are working to determine whether she was inside the building struck by the aircraft.
A nearby resident who witnessed the crash told Bild newspaper that the noise was “incredibly loud.” “We saw a huge cloud of smoke and ran to the house to help, but the woman was already dead,” the witness said.
Although the exact cause of the crash remains under investigation, it is known that the pilot had reported engine trouble before the incident. The aircraft had been attempting to land at Mönchengladbach Airport.
Authorities continue to investigate the circumstances surrounding the fatal crash.
