A aeroplane pulling a sign plummeted into a fireball in the streets of a city killing one.
Live television cameras captured the moment the aircraft engulfed in flames after it was seen veering erratically before plummeting to the ground near Memorial Regional Hospital in Hollywood, Florida.
According to eyewitnesses, fire services rushed to the scene and attempted to put out the fire after it came crashing down near a popular shopping centre at around 12.45pm.
Officials confirmed one person was killed following the crash. No other injuries have been reported.
City of Hollywood spokeswoman Joann Hussey said: “We believe one person was onboard and is deceased.”
The aircraft reportedly departed North Perry Airport in Pembroke Pines Officials, which is where banner planes operate out of, before hastily hitting the ground.
Ms Hussey said there is no evidence the single-engine plane hit any other vehicles when the aircraft plummeted to the ground.
The Federal Aviation Administration identified the plane as a single-engine Piper PA-25-235.
The National Transportation Safety Board confirmed it will be investigating the incident.
Hollywood Police said in a tweet: "Please avoid the area of N. Park Rd. between Hollywood Blvd and Johnson St., due to an ongoing dual agency operation, involving a plane crash. PLEASE NOTE: You cannot access Memorial Hospital from North Park Rd. Please use an alternate route."
Karen Schiff, a physical therapist at the nearby Memorial Regional Hospital Fitness and Rehabilitation Centre, told the Miami Herald she witnessed the plane crashing in front of her.
She said: “If the plane had landed 15 feet (closer), it would have been in our building. Whoever it was, made every attempt to not hurt anybody else on both sides of the road.”
The therapist, along with other bystanders, rushed over to the plane to see if they could rescue anyone from the wreckage but the flames were too dangerous.
“I just can’t get the picture out of my head right now,” she said. “Whoever it was truly a hero and went out of their way to not hurt anybody else."
Katrina Bravo, a manager at Big Louie’s pizza across the street, told South Florida Sun-Sentinel she looked outside her work after the crash and saw “a ball of flames.”
She said: “I just looked and said ‘Oh, my God."
Authorities are asking the public to avoid the area as they deal with the wreckage and investigate the crash.
Hollywood police spokeswoman Deanna Bettineschi said: “Anyone needing to get to Memorial Hospital will not be able to get there.”
Christopher Apinis, a sales manager at Gsource Technologies, was outside smoking when he heard the engine start to faulter before hearing an almighty explosion.
He said the smell of burnt gasoline filled the air, Mr Apinis said: "You could feel the heat on the other side of the street.
“It’s crazy. “You could just randomly be driving down the street and a plane just comes and hits you.”
