Washington, Jan 6 - A small cargo jet operated by Royal Air Cargo crashed Tuesday outside Chicago, an official at the local airport said.

Laura Witlox, an official at Chicago Executive Airport, had no information about the number of people on board or their fate. CNN reported that some bodies had been recovered from the scene.

Witlox said the Lear jet crashed as it was making its approach to the runway at about 1.30 p. m. at Chicago Executive Airport.

The airport is located in Wheeling, Illinois, about a 45-minute drive west of downtown Chicago.

The plane, which crashed just south of the airport in a forest preserve, belonged to a Michigan-based company, Royal Air Cargo. (dpa)