Two dead after small plane crashes into house in west France

Two people have died after a small plane crashed into a house in western France yesterday morning (October 7). 

The small aircraft, which had space for only a pilot and one passenger, crashed into the home in the village of La Bretonnière-La Claye (Vendée) at around 08:30. It was reportedly a small ‘Cirrus’ style plane.

The pilot and passenger were killed. The two people who live at the property were not harmed, but now need to be rehomed by local authorities as the building was mostly destroyed by the crash.

The reason for the incident, which happened in a rural area, is unclear and the local prefecture has opened an inquiry. 

Bomb disposal unit called

“The plane was totally destroyed,” said one of the nearly 30 firefighters that attended to the scene of the crash, reports local media Actu.

The plane also had a pyrotechnic system on board, which was dismantled by bomb security experts as it was at risk of explosion, the firefighters added. 

A special medical-psychological centre has been temporarily installed to help people near the site deal with the accident. 

“There was a lot of black smoke rising behind the house,” said a neighbour to France Bleu. 

It was followed “by a big bang, five or ten minutes after the crash. The plane exploded,” he added 

“One of the plane's wheels must have landed on the wall of the house opposite, and the plane completely disintegrated.”

“With the debris, you couldn't see that it was a plane [that caused the accident],” added another neighbour.

Read more: Three die as light aircraft crashes onto motorway near Paris