Italy: A dramatic plane crash in northern Italy has left two people dead after an ultralight aircraft crashed onto a highway in the province of Brescia and erupted into a fireball.

The victims were identified as Milan-based lawyer Sergio Ravaglia, 75, who was piloting the aircraft, and his partner Anna Maria De Stefano, 60.

Video footage captured the Freccia RG aircraft rapidly descending before striking the highway and bursting into flames, sending black smoke and debris flying across the road. Authorities say Ravaglia was likely attempting an emergency landing at the time.

Two motorists were injured in the incident but survived. Italian prosecutors have opened a manslaughter investigation, while the National Agency for Flight Safety has begun examining the wreckage and reviewing the aircraft's maintenance records. The crash has raised fresh concerns about the safety of light aircraft and emergency landing procedures over populated areas.