Eight skydivers have been killed after their plane crashed to the ground and caught fire in Finland on Sunday, with only three people surviving the accident, the Independent reported.
Comp Air 8 kit plane started disintegrating in the sky above Jamijarvi airfield, about 45 miles east of the south western town of Pori.
After investigators went through the badly burned wreckage, the bodies of the eight victims were discovered.
Three people, two parachutists and the pilot, jumped from the stricken plane in mid-air and used their parachutes to glide safely to the ground. According to UK MailOnline, they were reported to have minor injuries.
The accident scene was quickly attended by a rescue helicopter and ambulance after 6 pm on Sunday afternoon.
Of the 11 people on board, one of the survivors is confirmed to be the pilot of the plane. All the people involved in the incident were residents of the local area, police said.
Comp Air 8 is known to be a small aircraft popular with parachutists, according to UK MailOnline.
It hasn't been clear what caused the plane to dysfunction and crash, Petri Kangas, Detective Superintendent, said. Investigators have only concluded that "apparently some parts fell off the plane before it crashed."
Since the aircraft is believed to have been flying at a relatively high altitude of more than 10,000 feet before the crash occurred, it is likely that the parachutists were only minutes away from making their jump at that altitude.
"Witnesses said the plane appeared to run into engine trouble in mid-air and started making 'abnormal' noises before crashing and bursting into flames," UK MailOnline reported.
"According to police reports, the witnesses added that in the moments before the crash they saw 'three parachutes detach from the plane which then came down in a steep angle'."
Known for leisure and training flights, Jamijarvi airfield is one of the most popular sites in Finland.
