THREE people died after they were hit by a small plane in central Germany on Sunday as it attempted to take off after an aborted landing, police said.

Police in Hesse state said the victims, two women and a boy reported to be as young as 10, were on a path next to an airfield at the Wasserkuppe hill near Fulda, German news agency dpa reported.

Police said eight more people had been injured, according to The Sun.

They said the Cessna was attempting to take off after an aborted landing manoeuvre, but failed to gain lift and broke through a barrier, hitting three.

The 56-year-old pilot and three passengers were taken to hospital with slight injuries, and an eyewitness suffered severe shock.

The plane came from the Mannheim area of southwestern Germany and had been on an excursion to the Wasserkuppe.

The weather was reportedly fair at the time, and the cause of the crash is not yet known. Police are investigating.

Hesse state prime minister Volker Bouffier and interior minister Peter Beuth said they were “deeply affected” by the crash on the state chancellery Twitter page, and thanked the emergency services for their commitment.

“Our thoughts are with the relatives of the victims, we wish the injured people speedy recovery and we thank the rescue workers and the police for their commitment,” they said.

The aircraft is reported to have been privately owned.

Wasserkuppe mountain is the highest peak in the Rhon mountains and is popular among flyers of light aircraft and gliders.