Light aircraft en route Misrata in Libya crashes shortly after takeoff in Malta

VALLETTA, Malta - In what has become the country’s worst peacetime aircraft accident, a light aircraft that took off from Malta, heading for Misrata in Libya crashed shortly after takeoff. 

According to airport officials, at least five people were feared dead as the twin-prop Metroliner, that can carry about ten people tipped to its right side and “went straight down to the ground” as described by witnesses. 

Footage of the crash appeared on the social media shortly after the incident and was seen to have been shot from another place on the tarmac. Videos and images showed huge clouds of black smoke rising from the wreckage of the burning plane in a field. 

Initially, the plane was believed to have been leased by the EU border agency, Frontex from Luxembourg and was believed to have been carrying EU officials onboard. However, later a spokesperson said that the agency had not deployed the plane.

Frontex leads anti-people smuggling operations.  

The incident took place at about 7.20 am local time (0530 GMT) and rescue operations by emergency services were on for a while, to hunt for survivors. A local hospital in the area was placed in major incident mode.

Authorities said that all flights to and from the Malta International Airport in Luqa had been halted after the incident and that flights were being diverted to airports on the Italian island of Sicily. 

So far, officials have not released the nationality or names of the victims.