BREAKING: Plane crash in Malta leaves five people dead
At least five people have died after a plane crash in Malta.
Local media reports that the aircraft was operated by the French government.
Watch: Dramatic moment plane came crashing down https://t.co/qn305CUKVc pic.twitter.com/uzZkkAYAzZ
— Times of Malta (@TheTimesofMalta) October 24, 2016
The plane went down in shortly after take-off from Malta International Airport at around 7.20am local time (6.20am Irish time) today and is now Malta's worst peacetime air accident.
"Massive explosion" and second explosion: A witness to a plane crash which has killed five people at #Malta airport https://t.co/XrpuuFVzpY
— Sky News (@SkyNews) October 24, 2016
A witness told the Times Of Malta the propeller plane suddenly tipped to its right side and "went straight down to the ground", exploding into flames.
Further footage taken from another plane on the tarmac showed the wreckage burning in a field.
Small aircraft crashes at Malta airport killing five people, Maltese media reports (video via eyewitness @eddydeg) pic.twitter.com/JvYHDqa9x0
— BBC Breaking News (@BBCBreaking) October 24, 2016
Airport officials said the flight was heading for the city of Misrata in Libya. It is thought all the dead are French and were crew.
All departures and arrivals at Malta International Airport have now been stopped. Flights are currently being diverted to Sicily.
Live information can be found here.
