Aircraft smashes into car park

Terry Knowles, who witnessed the plane crash in Fort Lauderdale, Florida, told the Associated Press the aircraft was "an instantaneous fireball" when it hit the ground.

Mr Knowles said:

The US National Transportation Safety Board has launched an investigation after a small aircraft crashed near Fort Lauderdale Executive Airport yesterday:

Emergency workers have recovered three bodies from the wreckage of an airplane that crashed shortly after departing from Fort Lauderdale Executive Airport in Florida.

Fort Lauderdale spokesman Matt Little told local media that the plane banked right after taking off and crashed into several parked vehicles.

Little said no one on the ground was injured.

The airplane that has crashed into a building near Fort Lauderdale airport is believed to have reported mechanical problems before trying to return to the airport, according to local media.

US media report that the airplane made a sharp cut to the right and twisted down towards the ground shortly before 4:30 pm local time.

Three people are believed to have been killed in the airplane crash at Fort Lauderdale Airport, Florida, according to local media.

A small airplane has crashed into cars parked at a building near Fort Lauderdale Executive Airport, Florida, according to US media.

The plane is reported to be a Piper PA31 Navajo twin engine airplane, and seats 8 passengers, according to the Federal Aviation Administration.

It is currently unknown how many people were on the airplane, or if there was anyone near the site at the scene of the crash.