Vienna - Three people were killed in the crash of a small plane Sunday near Graz in southern Austria, authorities said.

Eyewitnesses described the single-engine aircraft suddenly losing altitude and plummeting from the sky, crashing near a local airport. None of the three occupants survived.

The plan had reportedly taken off Sunday afternoon in Salzburg, Austria, flying east into Austria's Syria region.

Authorities suspect that the plane encounted problems attempting a landing. (dpa)