Horror moment plane nosedives into motorway, leaving cars swerving and two dead

Shocking footage shows the plan rapidly travelling nose first into the ground.

It miraculously missed cars travelling on the motorway, although one vehicle could be seen driving through the fire after the plane hit the ground.

Another car was also seen driving through flames, however, both managed to stay on the road.

Two motorists were injured with non-life-threatening injuries, local reports have revealed.

Officials investigating the plane crash said it will be difficult to determine the reason behind the crash.

Rules for the "ultralight" plane are limited, meaning it did not have to declare its destination prior to the flight taking off.

Investigators will see whether certain procedures were not followed before its crash.

The two people onboard the aircraft have been identified as 75-year-old Milan lawyer, Sergio Ravaglia and his female partner Anna Maria De Stefano, 50.

They both have been reported dead.

Italian broadcasting channel Sky TG24 reported that the crash took place after midday on Tuesday after taking off from the Gagnano Trebbiense runway in the Piacenza region.

The motorway was immediately shut in both directions for a matter of hours.

Fire crews attended the scene and extinguished the fire before securing the area.

An investigation is now underway.

Enzo Bregoli, a witness, said he saw the plane flying low, but did not think it was in any trouble.

According to a translation of his comments to Corriere della Sera, the man said: “Suddenly, the pilot seemed to lose control."

"The ultralight spun around and fell straight down onto the road, nose-first," he added.

"If he had just tried to turn, it could have hit me. The moment the aircraft touched the asphalt, it immediately caught fire.”

Bregoli explained that he was left "horrified" by what he saw about 50 metres away.

Cladio Nolli, 49, who was also nearby, said that she had entered a ring road close to the crash before the flames went up.

"I had a truck in front of me and I crashed into it, passing through the flames," she explained.

"Then there was a loud bang, it was a ball of fire."