A regional passenger plane has crashed into a house in Buffalo, New York State, killing 49 people.

Continental Connection Flight 3407 was 10 minutes from landing at Buffalo when the crash occured at 2210 local time (0310 GMT). There were no survivors from the 44 passengers and 4 crew on board the aircraft, while one person on the ground also died.

The aircraft involved was a twin-prop Dash 8 Q400 aircraft on a local flight to Buffalo from New York Newark Airport. At a news conference held by the emergency services, FBI emergency control director David Bissonette said that two people on the ground escaped with minor injuries. Families from 12 homes surrounding the crash site have been evacuated.

Buffalo Plane Crash

Bisonette added that early indications showed the aircraft had crashed directly on top of the house. TV pictures showed the aircraft and the aircraft wreckage engulfed in flames. Eyewitness David Luce told the media he had heard the aircraft before it crashed.

"It sounded quite loud, and then the sound stopped," Luce said. He added: "Then one or two seconds later, there was a thunderous explosion. I thought something hit our house. It shook our whole house." Emergency services said the fire was very intense, with Bissonette adding that the "only recognisable piece of the airplane is the tail."

Investigators from the FAA and National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) are on their way to the scene to begin investigations.