AT LEAST 42 PEOPLE have died after a plane missed the runway and crashed in north-eastern China last night.

The Henan Airlines passenger plane was carrying 91 passengers when it overshot the runway at Yichun City’s Lindu airport, and burst into flames.

Initial reports suggested that 96 people had been on board.

Incredibly, 49 people managed to escape from the wreckage, including the pilot. Three of the survivors are said to be in critical condition.

Eighteen Chinese government officials were on board.

This footage from China shows the immediate aftermath of the crash, as emergency services battle the flaming wreck:

The fire was so severe that little of the fuselage remains. Authorities say they recovered the plane’s black box this morning.

One survivor reported turbulence as the plane was landing. He said the passengers had been unable to open the emergency exits as the cabin filled with smoke. He escaped by climbing through a hole in the wall of the plane.

Henan Airlines is a joint operation between Shenzhen Airlines of China and Mesa Air Group of the US.