Two people are dead after cargo plane crashed when it veered off a runway into woodland near Yeager Airport in Charleston, West Virginia, according to reports.

The plane rolled off the runway at Yeager Airport and over a hillside into a wooded area at around 7am this morning (US Eastern time), reports in the US media claim, including NBC News.

Kanawha County Ambulance confirmed two fatalities who believed to be the pilot and co-pliot.

NBC News reported the aircraft was being operated by Air Cargo Carriers as a subcontractor for UPS, and said the flight had originated from Louisville at 5.35am and was supposed to land at about 6.20am.

The US National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) tweeted: “NTSB investigating today’s crash of an air cargo Short SH33 at Charleston, WV Yeager Airport.”