An airplane made an emergency landing on a North Carolina highway and erupted in flames sending two passengers to the hospital.

The single-engine Diamond DA-40 aircraft rammed into Interstate 26 in Ashville around 8.15pm Thursday. 

The two people on board were taken to a local hospital, the Buncombe County Sheriff’s Office reported.  Their names have not been released. 

An airport spokesman said the plane reported problems and asked for assistance just before it came down. 

An airplane made an emergency landing and burst into flames on I-26 in Ashville, North Carolina on Thursday  night 

Cars that were on the highway at the time watched as the aircraft became engulfed in flames

It is unclear why the plane made a forced landing and when exactly the fire started. The forced landing backed up traffic on the highway for hours.

Officials said Ashville Regional Airport deployed fire trucks to the scene as Skyland Fire and Rescue, the North Carolina State Highway Patrol, Ashville Police Department and Buncombe County Sheriff’s Office responded to the scene. 

The westbound lanes of I-26 were closed indefinitely and a detour was set up for drivers. NC Department of Transportation officials predict the road will reopen around 7am Friday. 

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In videos, many drivers are seen slowly rolling down the highway as the plane laid there engulfed in flames. 

The aircraft was completely charred once the fire was put out and reporters at the scene said that the plane looked ‘unrecognizable’. They added a wing also flung off of the aircraft. 

Buildings and homes around the area experienced power surges and outages at the time of the frightening crash. 

Allen Morgan, a Buncombe County EMD supervisor told Citizen Times: ‘There does not appear to be any life-threatening injuries.’

A driver captured the aircraft covered in orange flames as they drove by on the other side of the divider 

‘We may be spending the night out here in this zipper traffic jam. Officials attempting to turn around the entire lane,’ a person on Facebook said, as they sat in  bumper to bumper traffic around 11.10pm. 

Another person posted to Facebook and said: ‘Best stay away from that area for sure… Prayers for everyone involved in this…’ 

According to The Aviation Consumer, a Diamond DA-40 airplane ‘is one of the more desirable used piston singles around.’

The condition of the two people that were taken to the hospital is unknown at this time.