MILAN, April 18 (News Agencies) - A small plane crashed into the upper floors of the Pirelli tower in an accident at the center of Milan, killing at least three people and setting the upper floors of the building on fire Thursday, April 18, news agencies reported.

Italian Interior Minister Claudio Scajola said the crash was probably an accident.

Scajola immediately sought to dispel fears of a repeat of the September 11 attacks, saying the crash was "probably an accident."

The small plane smashed into the 25th floor of the 30-storey building, a Milan landmark which houses the Lombardy regional authority headquarters, at around 3:45 pm (1545 GMT), witnesses said.

At least three people were killed and several injured in the accident, Qatar-based Al Jazeera satellite channel reported.

Among those killed was the pilot of the plane, investigators said.

Firefighters said at around 15 people were injured.

The impact gutted the 25th floor and badly damaged the floors immediately above and below.

Smoke was pouring from the skyscraper in the central Piazza Duca D'Aosta, and wreckage was scattered in the streets below.

An Italian private television station said the pilot of the aircraft had earlier radioed the control tower of a nearby airport to say he had lost control of the aircraft.

There were no immediate details available on casualties but television footage showed a man with head injuries taken to an ambulance.