Chilling video shows aftermath after plane crashes on North Carolina highway and catches fire leaving two BADLY injured: Parts of 1-26 West in Asheville remains closed

Terrifying footage shows the destruction caused after a plane crashed on a North Carolina highway last night and left two badly injured. 

A single-engine Diamond DA-40 aircraft rammed into Interstate 26 in Ashville on Thursday, hit power lines that cross I-26 and soon erupted in flames. 

The two people on board were taken to a local hospital, the Buncombe County Sheriff's Office reported. Their names have not been released.

Newly released footage shows severe damage to the side of the highway while officials examine the plane.

Smoke can be seen emitting from the destroyed plane while a lone wing is stuck in the rubble. 

The highway was closed in both directions till Friday morning as Duke Power workers fixed powerlines, but by 11 am, eastbound lanes and the left side of the highway's westbound lane were reopened. 

The right side of the westbound lanes of I-26 remain closed indefinitely and a detour has been set up for drivers. Officials said pavement repairs are taking place. 

The North Carolina State Highway Patrol said one of the plane's wings hit a tractor-trailer, but the driver did not sustain any injuries. 

It is unclear why the plane made a forced landing and when exactly the fire started. The forced landing backed up traffic on the highway for hours.

According to air traffic control audio from LiveATC.Net, the plane's occupants initially reported problems with oil pressure and engine failures.

'We're losing all engine power,' they said. 'Looks like, honestly, with our best glide, we're probably not going to make it.'

'We just heard a big bang, though, so we may lose it again here,' they told the tower despite being able to restart the engine.

The occupants then reported that the plane had about half of its power, and smoke filled the cockpit.

'Aircraft is about 4 miles from the field. They managed to get their engine back up. They're at half-power. Two souls on board, 30 gallons of fuel,' the tower said.

The plane's occupants then tell the tower they would probably have to put down on the highway.

'We're hearing from the radar room the pilot's going to try to land on I-26. He's not able to get his engine back up. Aircraft currently on fire.

'Plane is on the ground and the two passengers made it out before it caught on fire,' the tower said.

Officials said Ashville Regional Airport deployed fire trucks to the scene as Skyland Fire and Rescue, the North Carolina State Highway Patrol, Ashville Police Department and Buncombe County Sheriff's Office responded. 

Buildings and homes around the area experienced power surges and outages at the time of the frightening crash. 

Allen Morgan, a Buncombe County EMD supervisor, told Citizen Times: 'There does not appear to be any life-threatening injuries.'

According to air traffic control audio from LiveATC.Net, the plane's occupants first reported problems with oil pressure and engine failures.

'We may be spending the night out here in this zipper traffic jam. Officials attempting to turn around the entire lane,' a person on Facebook said, as they sat in  bumper to bumper traffic around 11:10 pm. 

Another person posted to Facebook and said: 'Best stay away from that area for sure... Prayers for everyone involved in this...' 

According to The Aviation Consumer, a Diamond DA-40 airplane 'is one of the more desirable used piston singles around.'

The condition of the two plane occupants who were taken to the hospital remains unknown.