FOUR people have died after a small jet crashed as it attempted to land at Blackbushe Airport in Hampshire this afternoon.

Emergency services are working at the scene after a fire broke out in the car auction site next to the runway where the Embraer Phenom 300 jet crashed at 3.09pm.

The aircraft, which was understood to be flying from Milan-Malpensa Airport in Italy to Blackbushe came down after overshooting the runway and clipping a fence.

The jet then flipped over and landed on a number of cars in an adjacent auction site, sparking a huge blaze.

Around 20 cars were completely destroyed.

Acting Chief Inspector of Hampshire police Olga Venner said the pilot and three passengers had been on board.

She said: "Sadly there were no survivors. no one on the ground has been injured.

Daily Echo: Blackbushe air crashVideo by @tubman89 July 31, 2015

A spokesman for the Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) confirmed it was ''aware'' of the incident and was ''making inquiries''.

A spokesman for the ambulance Service said: ''We are in attendance, we were called out at 3.10pm to an emergency at the airport.

''There are a number of ambulances on scene and we have called the air ambulance to the scene as well.

''At the moment the number of casualties is unconfirmed.''

Hampshire Police asked motorists to avoid the area. The crash site backs on to the A30 and is a short distance from the M3.

In a message to motorists, they said: ''We're dealing with an air emergency incident at Blackbushe Airport.

''Please avoid the area if you can. We'll update you when we can.''

Blackbushe airport is usually used by private aircraft, as opposed to commercial airlines.

Robert Belcher, a local aviation enthusiast, said he was driving home when he saw a plume of black smoke coming from the site.

''I was passing the airport on my way home and there was a big column of smoke in the air.

''The fire service had closed the road behind me.

''I could see the plume of smoke waving from about five miles away and was hoping it was just a car fire rather than an aircraft accident.''

Mr Belcher said he was ''shocked'' when he discovered that a jet had crashed.

He added: ''Apparently the aircraft was landing and just didn't stop.

''At the end of the runway there is a car park because the airport is used for car auctions and it's gone into there.

''I assumed it was cars on fire in the auction yard.

''Local people have said that it was this aircraft which is registered in Saudi Arabia.

''It's been a regular visitor to the airport for a few months.

''The aircraft would hold six people, it's a small jet.''