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Malta plane crash: At least five killed as aircraft carrying EU border officials goes down in Luqa Malta plane crash: At least five killed as light aircraft 'carrying EU border officials' goes down at airport
(35 minutes later)
A light aircraft believed to be carrying officials from EU border agency Frontex crashed shortly after take-off from Malta on Monday, killing at least five people, airport sources and witnesses said. At least five people have died after a plane reportedly carrying officials from the EU border agency crashed in Malta.
The crash, Malta's worst peacetime aircraft accident, happened at about 0530 GMT, as the plane was heading for Misrata in Libya, said officials. The light aircraft went down in shortly after take-off from Malta International Airport at around 7.20am local time (6.20am BST) on Monday morning.
Rescuers were looking for survivors. The plane, a twin-prop Metroliner, can carry around 10 people. A witness told the Times of Malta the propeller plane suddenly tipped to its right side and "went straight down to the ground".
The Times of Malta said the plane had been leased from Luxembourg for use by Frontex officials. There was no immediate news on the nationality of the victims.  Footage taken from another plane on the tarmac showed the wreckage burning in a field, sending a huge plume of black smoke into the air as passengers could be heard crying.
There were not believed to be any survivors from the disaster, which is Malta's worst peacetime air accident.
Officials told local media the flight was heading for the city of Misrata in Libya and there was no immediate confirmation of the nationality of the victims.
The country's northern coast is a major launching point for migrant boats heading towards Europe, with Frontex leading anti-people smuggling operations.
A spokesperson for the agency said it had not deployed the aircraft itself but could not immediately confirm whether staff were on board.
An inquiry into the cause of the disaster will be opened by Malta's Bureau of Air Accident Investigation.
All departures and arrivals at Malta International Airport were stopped as recovery work continued, with flights diverted to airports on the Italian island of Sicily. Live information can be found here.