Five die in Malta plane crash
Five people died in plane crash in Malta this morning.
Malta Airport has confirmed that the crew members aboard the Fairchild Metroliner were killed in a crash.
Captured this moments after #Luqa plane crash;all shocked pre take off.sharing this via data @pinkdixie22 @rebeccagyeo @BBCBreaking #Malta pic.twitter.com/PxpErWH8yX
— Edward De Gaetano (@eddydeg) October 24, 2016
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The airport said in a statement:
Our thoughts are with the families of the people involved in the accident today.
An investigation is currently ongoing and we are working with all the authorities to provide them with any assistance necessary.
It was initially reported that the twin-prop Metroliner was carrying EU border officials – but Frontex, the European border authority, has said it did not deploy the plane.
The plane that crashed in Malta was not deployed by Frontex.
— Frontex (@Frontex) October 24, 2016
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The crash occurred at around 5.30am GMT, with the plane heading for Misrata in Libya, according to Reuters.
The Times of Malta reported that the craft crashed shortly after takeoff in Luqa. No one on board is believed to have survived.
Sources told the publication the plane subsequently burst into flames.