BREAKING: Plane crash in Malta leaves five people dead

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At least five people have died after a plane crash in Malta.

Local media reports that the aircraft was operated by the French government. 

The plane went down in shortly after take-off from Malta International Airport at around 7.20am local time (6.20am Irish time) today and is now Malta's worst peacetime air accident. 

A witness told the Times Of Malta the propeller plane suddenly tipped to its right side and "went straight down to the ground", exploding into flames.

Further footage taken from another plane on the tarmac showed the wreckage burning in a field.

Airport officials said the flight was heading for the city of Misrata in Libya. It is thought all the dead are French and were crew. 

 

All departures and arrivals at Malta International Airport have now been stopped. Flights are currently being diverted to Sicily.

Live information can be found here.

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