Two killed in small plane crash in western Germany

Two people were killed when a light aircraft crashed in a forest in western Germany, local authorities said on Tuesday.

The plane crashed near Hürtgenwald in the state of North Rhine-Westphalia after taking off from an airfield near Aachen, Hürtgenwald Mayor Stephan Cranen told dpa.

Hikers found the wreckage in woodland, Cranen said.

Police said the cause of the crash was unclear and investigations were ongoing.

Authorities did not provide details on the age, sex or place of residence of the two occupants. No one else was injured, according to police.