A Soviet-era MiG-23 fighter has crashed at an air show in Michigan, hitting unoccupied cars as it fell.

The pilot noticed the plane was losing power, and he and the passenger were able to safely eject just moments before the plane crashed in a plume of smoke.

The pilot had serious but non-life threatening injuries, while the passenger left with minor injuries, officials said.

“It’s very fortunate, of course, that nobody on the ground was injured”, said John Brannen, senior air safety investigator at the National Transportation Safety Board.

“The plane travelled about 500ft (152m) after the initial impact, went through some trees and wound up here next to the apartment building.” he added.