4 killed in plane crash in S. Africa

Four men were killed when a small aircraft crashed into a bus depot in Germiston, east of South Africa's Johannesburg on Sunday.

Police spokeswoman Sergeant Zithini Dlamini said the single engine Cessna Centurion crashed at the Marcopolo bus depot near the Rand Airport around 12:20 (1020 GMT).

Pilot Robert Guy Fletcher, John Mckenzie and Richard Willus, all 55, and Nicholas Paumgarien, 23, were killed in the crash. Themen and a dog died instantly.

Dlamini said the men were returning from a weekend hunting trip.It appeared the six-seater aircraft experienced engine trouble as it was making a final approach for landing at the airport.

After narrowly missing a busy nearby highway, as well as numerous buildings, the aircraft's wing hit the roof of two busses.Wreckage lay strewn for more than 20 meters.

According to a report from the South African Press Association,no one was injured on the ground.

Dlamini said police found nine hunting rifles and some wild geese inside the aircraft.

The relatives of the deceased, who were from in and around Johannesburg, had been informed and an inquest docket had been opened, she said.

Source: Xinhua