Portugal plane crash: Five reported dead after plane crashes into Lidl car park

Tom Powell17 April 2017

Five people have died after a plane crashed into a supermarket car park in Portugal, according to local media.

The aircraft had only just taken off from Tires airfield when it “exploded” mid-air and plummeted towards the ground 2km away.

It crashed into the car park of a Lidl supermarket near Lisbon, killing the pilot and three French passengers, according to TVi24.

A Portuguese truck driver who was offloading his cargo outside the supermarket when the plane hit also died, said operational commander Miguel Cruz.

There were at least 50 firefighters and 18 fire engines on the scene following the crash just after midday on Monday.

Pictures from the scene showed plumes of smoke billowing high above residential buildings in the aftermath of the incident.

All four people on board the flight were killed
EPA

The plane, reportedly registered in Switzerland, had just taken off from the airport near to the town of Cascais, which is 20 miles west of Lisbon. It had been travelling to Marseille.

Portugal's president Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa was quick to arrive on the scene after the first reports emerged.

The cause of the crash is not yet known.

Emergency services at the Lidl in Tires
EPA

Four other people were slightly injured in the incident, emergency services said.

They had been shopping inside the supermarket, which is located in a residential neighbourhood, and were treated for shock and smoke inhalation.

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