Five dead in FIREBALL horror: Plane crashes after terrifying nosedive at Malta airport
GRAPHIC footage has emerged of the moment five customs officers died at the start of a mission to crack down on drug and human trafficking when their plane thundered into the ground and exploded.
Moment aircraft crashes in Malta killing five people
All five men on board the military-style plane were killed as the aircraft spiralled out of control and smashed onto the runway at Malta International Airport.
The deceased includes three officers from France's defence ministry and two military contractors, who are also French.
The five men were part of a French Customs surveillance operation tracing illegal human and drug trafficking in Libya, which is where the plane was headed.
An investigation into the cause of the crash has been launched by Maltese authorities and while they could not rule out terrorism, a spokesman told Express.co.uk "the crash does not appear to be the result of foul play".
A witness to the horrific incident, which took place at 5.30am in the village of Luqa, said: "It was an explosion, a right ball of fire."
Malta International Airport tweeted: "We can confirm that the five crew on board the aircraft are deceased. 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."
It is understood the plane was being rented from CAE Aviation Luxembourg and was due to fly over Misrata, Libya, before returning to Malta, but it barely made it off the runway.
CAE owns several military grade aircraft and specialises in reconnaissance and aerial observation missions and military parachute expeditions, according to the company's website.
Five dead as aircraft crashes in Malta
One onlooker was sitting on another plane on the runway when disaster struck.
He said: "We were on the plane and most of us were half asleep when we heard a massive explosion followed by another explosion.
"We didn't know what was going on.
"I can imagine the pilot of our plane saw what happened but we just saw the aftermath.
"We can't believe it."
Some of the burning wreckage ended up on the airport perimeter road between Kirkop and Safi, and firefighters were seen spraying the area with foam.
Another eyewitness said he narrowly avoided death as burning debris fell from the sky and landed just 10 metres away from him.
The man, who did not wish to be named, said: "I heard the scream of a plane, and then saw it come crashing down. It burst into flames immediately.
"Very little of the plane was left, just some debris."
Five dead as aircraft crashes in Malta
A statement from the Maltese government read: "A Fairchild Metroliner Mark III aircraft registered in the United States and leased to a Luxembourg company crashed soon after take-off from Malta International Airport at around 0720 CET.
"Official information, footage and eyewitnesses, including three members of the Armed Forces of Malta at the nearby Safi Barracks, and two commercial airline pilots, clearly indicate that there was no explosion prior to impact. Several inquiries, as established by international rules and the Laws of Malta, are currently underway to establish all facts.
"The remains of all five men on board, all French nationals, have been found.
"The flight was part of a French Customs surveillance operation which has been taking place for the past five months, with the aim of tracing routes of illicit trafficking of all sorts, including human and drug trafficking amongst others. The said flight was registered with the Malta Air Traffic Services as a local flight and was to return to Malta within hours without landing in third countries."
Express.co.uk spoke to a Malta Police spokesman who said: "All I know is there are some dead people. Officers are still on the scene trying to put the fire out."
Flights have just recommenced landing and taking off from Malta's main airport.
The bodies of the five victims have been taken to Meter Dei Hospital, around 7km from the airport.
The CEO of the hospital, Ivan Falzon, told Express.co.uk that they have received no live patients.
It was initially reported that Frontex, the EU-sponsored company specialising in border security, had hired the aircraft and that its officials were on board, but the company denies this claim.
The identity of the deceased is as yet unknown.
More to follow...
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