‘Three killed’ after plane crashes into crowd in western Germany

Pilot reportedly lost control of Cessna aircraft when trying to take off

A small plane crash close to the Wasserkuppe mountain in Hesse, Germany. Photograph: EPA/Osthessen News/Kipper

Sun Oct 14 2018 - 17:50

Several people died when a Cessna plane crashed into a crowd in the western German state of Hesse on Sunday, police said.

Several more people were injured in the incident that happened around 3.45pm (2.45pm Irish time) in the Rhön region near the town of Fulda, police said.

Local media reported that the pilot lost control of the aircraft when trying to land at Wasserkuppe.

It appeared that something went wrong during the procedure so the pilot tried to take off again but the Cessna did not pick up, broke through a barrier and rolled into a waiting crowd, Osthessen News reported.