At least five people have been killed at Maltas Luqa airport after a twin propeller plane, believed to be carrying EU officials, crashed shortly after take-off.
The Metroliner plane burst into flames shortly after it left the runway at Maltas largest airport. It was travelling to the Libyan coastal town of Misrata.
Eyewitnesses told the Times of Malta that the plane briefly rose from the tarmac before rolling onto its side and then plummeting to the ground. They said it was believed no one on board survived the disaster. The small passenger aircraft can carry as many as 10 passengers but is was unclear whether the flight was full.
Conflicting media reports have claimed the plane was chartered by Frontex, the EUs border agency. However, the EU body has refuted the claims on social media saying the aircraft was not deployed by Frontex, without giving any further details about those on board the flight.
Firefighters were sent to put out fires raging in and around the wreckage. It does not appear that any individuals on the ground were caught up in the crash. Some of the debris from the doomed plane did fall on the Airports perimeter road.
Luaq airport has said in a statement that emergency services remain on call and the aerodrome the chartered flight departed from will remain closed until further notice. The airport has apologised to passengers for any inconvenience.
Reuters reported the crash, which occurred at roughly 5:30 GMT, was the worst peacetime aircraft accident in Malta. There has been no immediate news on the nationality of those who were killed in the crash.
