As many as nine people are feared dead after a small private jet crashed into an apartment building in the midwestern US city of Akron.
The plane, a twin-engine business jet, was on approach to the airport in the Ohio city when it crashed, reports said.
The Akron Business Journal, citing the plane owner's Augusto Lewkowicz, said nine people were on board including two pilots.
"None are believed to be alive," the newspaper said in a report on its website, www.ohio.com.
Lewkowicz said he would not identify those on board before informing their families, saying: "I owe responses to the family members first."
Local television networks including the CBS affiliate in Cleveland, WOIO, said two people were so far confirmed dead.
No one was inside the small brick apartment building or a neighbouring home that caught fire.
The jet clipped a utility wire on the way down and burst into flames and disintegrated after impact, Ohio State Highway Patrol Lt Bill Haymaker said.
The plane then hit an embankment beyond the apartment building, causing a nearby house to also burn, he said.
Witnesses reported hearing explosions when the plane hit.
"I heard a big bang, and my couch shook twice," said Carrie Willis, who lives several blocks away.
The front of the apartment building was destroyed.
Jesse Moon told WEWS-TV that he was six blocks away when the plane went down and he ran over to the area.
"Everything was gone," he said. "It looked like a bomb exploded."
AFP
