A plane has crashed into a residential building in Belo Horizonte, Brazil, as footage shows the moment of the horrific impact. The aircraft was spotted circling the Silveira area before colliding with a low-rise building.

According to Globo, Brazil's biggest media company, the pilot and co-pilot were killed in the crash. The local fire department confirmed that the pilot was trapped in the wreckage with three others also seriously injured. No injuries inside the building were reported. Five people were on board the plane that took off from Pampulha Airport at 12.16pm. Emergency services arrived at the site of the craft at 12.25pm. The pilot was reported to have told Pampulha Airport control tower that he was having difficulties taking off.

Speaking about the collision, Lieutenant Raul of the Fire Department said: “It [the aircraft] hit between the third and fourth floors, in the stairwell.

“If it had hit the sides, it could have struck some residences; those apartments were occupied.

“What we saw was the structure of the aircraft projected inside the stairwell, without hitting any other apartments.”

National Civil Aviation Agency (ANAC) records show the aircraft is an EMB-721C model, made in 1979.

The owner was identified as Flavio Loureiro Salgueiro.