An American couple in their 60s, who were on holiday in Botswana, died in a light aircraft accident on a farm near Ghanzi during take-off on Thursday June 29.

Botswana Television News reported that Mike and Kim Champagne, aged 64 and 65 as well as two pilots who are said to be Botswana residents were travelling in a GA-8 Airvan. They were in the process of taking off from a runway on the Eaton and Sons farm when plane crashed into a building and burst into flames.

Assistant Superintendent Montsho Kgope of Ghanzi police says the Champagne couple died while the pilots were taken to the Ghanzi Primary Hospital with severe burn wounds.

SNBC 13 News reported that Mike’s company, Champagne Metals, confirmed the couple’s death.

An obituary for the couple reads that a memorial service will be held in Tulsa, USA on July 14.

On social media, aviation enthusiasts speculated on how the plane managed to crash into a building while they had the use of a runway that is 2km long.