VERNON (NEWS1130) – Two people are dead after a plane crash in Vernon this afternoon.

Gord Molendyk with the RCMP says the plane took off from the Vernon Airport shortly after 1 p.m. and crashed moments later.

“It came down in a place called Marshall Field, which is a soccer field here in South Vernon. It appears the aircraft touched the ground, cartwheeled, and exploded on impact,” he explains.

The two victims were the only people on-board.

Molendyk notes it could have been much worse. “Luckily, it was very deserted at the time. There were a few people around, but it was not busy at all today, thank goodness.”

“The ages or home towns of the victims has not been identified yet,” he adds.

The Transportation Safety Board is investigating.