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Malta plane crash: All five people on board killed as light aircraft goes down at airport Malta plane crash: All five people on board killed as light aircraft goes down at airport in 'take-off accident'
(35 minutes later)
A plane reportedly carrying officials from the EU border agency has crashed in Malta, killing all five people on board. A plane has crashed in Malta, killing all five people on board in the country's worst peacetime air disaster.
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. The light aircraft went down during take-off from Malta International Airport at around 7.20am local time (6.20am BST) on Monday morning.
A witness told the Times of Malta the propeller plane suddenly tipped to its right side and "went straight down to the ground". A witness told the Times of Malta newspaper the propeller plane suddenly tipped to its right side and "went straight down to the ground".
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.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.
Edward De Gaetano, who took the video as his flight prepared to take off, said everyone on board was "shocked" and said the aircraft appeared to be a military plane. Edward De Gaetano, an actor, was on the flight waiting to take off for London when he witnessed the aftermath of the crash.
Another video taken from a car showed the aircraft plummeting at an angle from low altitude, missing nearby houses and roads, exploding into a huge fireball on impact. “We were about to take off, moments before we did from our windows we could see a massive explosion - at first we had no idea what caused it,” he said.
There were not believed to be any survivors from the disaster, which is Malta's worst peacetime air accident. “We quickly realised an aircraft had crash landed. That is when everyone got a bit anxious.”
Mr De Gaetano said everything seemed "very normal" before the disaster, adding: “There was a second explosion and I thought 'oh my god this is not just a fire'. We are all a bit stunned.”
Another video taken from a car showed the aircraft plummeting at an angle from low altitude, missing nearby houses and roads before exploding into a huge fireball on impact.
Airport officials said the flight was heading for the city of Misrata in Libya and there was no immediate confirmation of the nationality of the victims.Airport officials said 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. “We can confirm that the five crew on board the aircraft are deceased," a spokesperson for Malta International Airport said. "Our thoughts are with families of people involved in this accident.
A spokesperson for the agency said it had not deployed the aircraft itself but could not immediately confirm whether staff were on board. “An investigation is currently ongoing and we are working with all the authorities to provide them with any assistance necessary.”
Lithuania's foreign minister, Linas Linkevicius, was among those offering his condolences, writing on Twitter: "Sincere condolences to the families of EU officials killed in a plane crash at Malta airport." She described the incident as an "accident upon take-off".
An inquiry into the cause of the disaster will be opened by Malta's Bureau of Air Accident Investigation. The aircrafSincere condolences to the families of EU officials killed in a plane crash at Malta airport.t, a twin-propeller Metroliner, can carry around 10 people. Local reports initially said the twin-propeller Fairchild Metroliner was carrying officials from the EU border agency, Frontex, but a spokesperson later said no staff were on board.
Federica Mogherini, the EU Commission Vice President and high representative for foreign affairs and security policy, also said no other EU officials were involved, adding: “The flight was not related to any of the EU activities."
The plane, registration number N577MX, last underwent an airworthiness inspection in 2011, according to records held by the US Federal Aviation Administration.
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.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.
Additional reporting by agencies