Maryland plane crash: Three dead as aircraft hits Gaithersburg home

UPDATE: At least 3 dead after plane crash damages multiple suburban Maryland homes: http://t.co/zSdQkLuI2o pic.twitter.com/uKoGcN5ZvZ
— Ryan Gorman (@GormoJourno) December 8, 2014

At least three people have been killed in a plane crash in the city of Gaithersburg in Montgomery County.

It is believed that the aircraft crashed into a house as it was approaching Runway 14 at the nearby Montgomery County Airpark.

The plane was an Embraer EMB-500/Phenom 100 twin-engine small jet, which could carry up to 12 people.

A neighbour told NBC Washington News: "We hear planes come through all the time. I was actually in the kitchen making formula for my son, and I heard it come through, and that one was significantly louder than the other ones.

"And at the same time it passed over the house, and I heard a thump.... And then I started hearing sirens."

@JimMacKayWNEW: Stunned neighbors watch plane crash scene which firefighters are still battling @WNEW pic.twitter.com/B1i4KEPnwT” @cbsbaltimore
— Mike Hellgren (@HellgrenWJZ) December 8, 2014

Montgomery County Fire Department spokesman Pete Piringer said: "We have a lot of work to do, [there is] a lot of damage."

Investigations are ongoing.