The spokesman said the two victims were a colonel and a mechnic. The cause of the crash has not been established.

The aircraft, a 1940s T6 plane, had seen active service during the conflicts preceeding Portugal's withdrawal from its African colonies in the 1970s and now belonged to an aviation museum.

It had been taking part in an air show with three other planes to celebrate International Museums Day when the crash happened.

It came down close to a residential area near the Algueirao railway station. No-one on the ground was hurt.

Four accidents involving small planes have occurred in Portugal since the beginning of the year, claiming six lives.

WAR.WIRE