24 Oct 2016

Five killed in Malta plane crash

11:58 pm on 24 October 2016

A light aircraft has crashed shortly after take-off from Malta, killing at least five people in the island nation's worst peacetime air accident, airport sources and witnesses say.

At least five people are thought to have died in the crash.

At least five people are thought to have died in the crash. Photo: Screenshot / Times of Malta

The crash happened about 7.30am local time (6.30pm NZT) shortly after the plane took off, heading for Misrata in Libya, officials said.

Airport officials initially said the plane was believed to be carrying officials from EU border agency Frontex.

Frontex later confirmed that none of its staff were involved in the incident.

Federica Mogherini, high representative of the EU for foreign affairs and security policy and vice president of the EU Commission, said in a tweet that no EU officials were involved in the crash.

The victims were three French Defence Ministry officials and two private contractors, French Defence Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said.

- Reuters