German air traffic control spokesman Axel Raab said Sunday that the Cessna 550 Citation was given clearance to climb to a higher altitude after entering German airspace at 8.20 p.m. (1920GMT). However, there was no response and the plane then disappeared from radar screens.

Police said several pieces of wreckage were found in an area southeast of the city off Dresden. Rescuers were searching for the pilots.

There was no immediate word on the possible cause of the crash. The plane was en route from Prague to Karlstad, Sweden.