Two people died when a small aircraft crashed onto Germany’s A2 motorway near Magdeburg on Friday, November 6.

Police said the plane came down at approximately 2:48 p.m. local time between Burg and the Krähenberge rest area, landing on the carriageway towards Hanover. The aircraft caught fire, and emergency responders recovered the bodies of both occupants. The cause of the crash was not immediately known.

Initial police findings indicated that no road vehicles were involved. Authorities closed the Hanover-bound lanes while firefighters, rescue crews and police worked at the scene. Photographs showed the aircraft’s tail on the roadway and burned debris scattered along a nearby embankment.

The aircraft belonged to Aero Club Kropp in Schleswig-Holstein, according to the club’s chairman, who confirmed its ownership to the German press agency dpa. He said a club member and another person had been aboard. The club canceled a celebration planned for the following day.

Police said federal authorities were also involved in the response. Their initial statement did not establish what caused the aircraft to come down.