Malta plane crash leaves five dead

A plane has crashed on the runway at Malta International Airport in Luqa, killing all five people who were on board shortly after take off.

The small aircraft was headed towards Libya at 07:30 local time on Monday morning, and reports suggest it was a Fairchild Metroliner which was deployed to monitor migrant trafficking routes.

The Maltese government said that all five victims were French, and they were to launch a surveillance operation off the coast of the North-African country.

Officials from the airport have confirmed that it will be closed until further notice.

The Libyan coast is seen as one of the main starting point for many migrant boats to cross the Mediterranean.

The Times of Malta quoted a witness to the crash as saying the plane "went straight down to the ground" after it had suddenly tipped to its right hand side.

A video from a Twitter user appears to show the aircraft plummeting shortly after take off.