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| Malta plane crash latest: All five people on board killed as light aircraft goes down at airport in 'take-off accident' | Malta plane crash latest: All five people on board killed as light aircraft goes down at airport in 'take-off accident' |
| (35 minutes later) | |
| A plane has crashed in Malta, killing all five people on board in the country's worst peacetime air disaster. | 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 during 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 newspaper 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, an actor, was on the flight waiting to take off for London when he witnessed the aftermath of the crash. | Edward De Gaetano, an actor, was on the flight waiting to take off for London when he witnessed the aftermath of the crash. |
| “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. | “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. |
| “We quickly realised an aircraft had crash landed. That is when everyone got a bit anxious.” | “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.” | 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. | 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. |
| “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. | “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. |
| “An investigation is currently ongoing and we are working with all the authorities to provide them with any assistance necessary.” | “An investigation is currently ongoing and we are working with all the authorities to provide them with any assistance necessary.” |
| She described the incident as an "accident upon take-off". | She described the incident as an "accident upon take-off". |
| 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. | 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." | 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." |
| A military source at the airport told Reuters all five victims were French but their nationalities have not been confirmed by the country's government. | |
| The plane, registration number N577MX, last underwent an airworthiness inspection in 2011, according to records held by the US Federal Aviation Administration. | 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. | 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 | Additional reporting by agencies |