At least one person has been killed after a private airplane went down just after takeoff from the Columbia airport.

The crash happened around 11am, near Springfield Road and Horseshoe Bend in Columbia.

Witnesses have said the aircraft´s engine was sputtering badly, prior to the crash.

After the crash, the wreckage burst into flames and started a brush fire.

Coroners have been called to the scene, and officials from the Federal Aviation Administration are on their way as well.