A family of four have been killed after a small plane crashed into a forest in Switzerland, police have said.

A couple and their two children had taken off less than 20 minutes earlier from an airfield in Kaegiswil, and were headed for France.

The aircraft went down near the town of Hergiswil, with police alerted to the crash just before 10am local time.

Authorities sent a helicopter to extinguish the burning wreck of the aircraft before rescue workers could get to the scene.

Police said the aircraft had burnt out and officials have not yet been able confirm the exact number and identity of those who died.


The cause of the crash will be investigated by police, prosecutors and the Swiss Accident Investigation Board.

An operation to reach the victims and the wreck is ongoing.

Ju-Air - a Swiss company that offers flights with veteran Junkers Ju-52, said on its website that one of its aircraft had been involved in an accident on Saturday.

In a separate incident, another small plane crashed in southeastern Switzerland on the Piz Segnas mountain above the Alpine resort of Flims.