RIO DE JANEIRO, March 29 (Xinhua) -- Two people on board a small aircraft were killed after it crashed on Sunday in Rio Claro in Brazil's Rio de Janeiro state, according to authorities.

The crash occurred at approximately 11:55 a.m. local time near the Sao Joao Marcos road, where the aircraft went down in a private forested area.

Firefighters said that when rescue teams arrived at the scene, both occupants showed no signs of life. Rescue and response operations are still underway, and technical experts will conduct an on-site investigation.

Brazil's National Civil Aviation Agency said the aircraft was registered as an experimental category plane and was authorized to operate only during daytime. ■