The twin-engine plane went down in an area near Honolulu’s Dillingham Airfield on Friday evening, local media reports.

Firefighters who arrived at the scene reported that the aircraft was on fire, with a smoke plume visible from miles away.

The skydiving aircraft crashed on Oahu’s North Shore and then was engulfed in flames.

Fire Chief Manuel Neves told local media that family members of victims were on the ground when the crash happened.

“It is very difficult,” he said. “In my 40 years as a firefighter here in Hawaii, this is the most tragic aircraft incident we’ve had.”

Kirk Caldwell, Mayor of Honolulu, tweeted: “I am closely following the tragic developments out of Dillingham Airfield this evening.

“At this time our thoughts and prayers are with the family and friends of the victims.”

Hawaii’s department of transport (DOT) reported that nine people had been on the plane when it crashed, with no survivors.

“With extreme sadness HDOT reports there were 9 souls on board the King Air twin engine plane that went down near Dillingham Airfield with no apparent survivors,” it tweeted.

At this time it is not clear if the plane was landing or taking off when it ran into trouble.

Chief neves added: “We’re still gathering that information.

“We don’t know the intent of the flight.”

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