Three people have died after a small aircraft crashed into a residential neighborhood in Maryland, authorities confirmed.

The single-engine Piper PA-28, carrying a pilot and two passengers, went down in Bowie, Maryland, shortly after midnight on Sunday, according to the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and Maryland State Police.

The aircraft was traveling from Ocean City, New Jersey, to Montgomery County Airpark in Gaithersburg when it suddenly crashed into a wooded area near residential homes. Speaking at a press conference, Maryland State Police spokesperson Elena Russo said the aircraft was believed to be on a possible training flight.

All three occupants of the plane, who were adults, were pronounced dead at the scene.

Emergency responders launched a search operation after receiving reports of a possible aircraft crash. However, authorities said difficult access to the crash site delayed recovery efforts, and crews were unable to reach the wreckage until approximately 3:45 a.m.

Investigators believe the aircraft is owned by a flight school in Montgomery County and may have been participating in a training exercise at the time of the accident.

Images from the scene showed debris from the aircraft scattered near a public playground, less than 20 miles from Washington, D.C. No injuries were reported on the ground despite the crash occurring close to residential properties.

The cause of the crash remains under investigation. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) has launched an inquiry to determine the circumstances surrounding the fatal incident.