In the worst aircrash in Brazilian history, a Brazilian passenger plane skidded off a runway in the rain and crashed into a building bursting into flames and killing 200 people on board and on ground early on Wednesday morning in Sau Paulo, a fire official said.

Tam Arlines, Brazil's [Images] largest, said Airbus 320 was carrying 170 passengers and a crew of six when it crashed into the airline's own offices across the airport, located within Sao Paulo city limits.

The airplane disappeared inside the building with only its tail end remaining visible from the outside, witnesses said.

As firefighters battled the blaze, two hours after the crash the first victims were taken out of the building.