Two people were killed on Friday when a small plane crashed on a major avenue in São Paulo, Brazil’s economic capital, before skidding into a bus.

Firefighter chief Ronaldo Melo told reporters that it was unclear whether the aircraft had been attempting an emergency landing shortly after takeoff, reporting that it slid hundreds of metres along the avenue before colliding with a bus and exploding.

He therefore revealed that the pilot and sole passenger were killed in the accident, which occurred shortly after the King Air F90 took off from Campo de Marte Airport, which handles domestic flights.

9News reports that Images broadcast on local television showed thick plumes of smoke billowing into the air; however, firefighters quickly brought the blaze under control.

Investigators are at the scene “taking photos and interviewing people who witnessed the aircraft crash” to determine the circumstances of the accident, Melo said.