Small plane crashes in Portugal near supermarket, killing five

Rescue official says everyone on board the plane; three French and one Swiss, died

LISBON: A small airplane crashed near a supermarket in a residential area outside Lisbon on Monday, killing five people, rescue workers said.

The private airplane crashed after taking off from the small Tires airport, which is located near the resort town of Cascais about 20 km (12.5 miles) west of Lisbon and used mainly by private aircraft.



Andre Fernandes, a spokesperson for the local emergency services, said the plane was headed for Marseilles in France. Everyone on board the plane, three French and one Swiss, died.

Smoke is seen where a small airplane crashed near a supermarket in a residential area outside Lisbon, Portugal April 17, 2017. PHOTO: REUTERS

Another person on the ground died when the plane crashed into a truck, setting off a fire, Fernandes said. The cause of the accident was not yet known.

President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa went to the site of the crash. There were more than 50 rescue workers at the site.