A plane thought to be carrying EU officials has crashed at an airport in Malta killing five people.

The crash, Malta's worst peacetime aircraft accident, happened at about 5.30am as the plane was heading for Misrata in Libya.

Eyewitnesses say the light aircraft crashed at Luqa airport shortly after taking off.

Footage shows how the plane burst into flames close to the airport. Rescuers are looking for survivors.

Speaking to the Times of Malta, an eyewitness said the plane tipped to the right and “went straight down into the ground".

It was initially reported the plane was leased from Luxembourg and used by officials from Frontex, which is the EU border management agency.

However, Frontex, the European Border and Coastguard Agency, said it was not one of its planes.

A local hospital has been placed in major incident mode.

Emergency services are on the scene and service to and from Malta International Airport have been cancelled.

The plane, a twin-prop Metroliner, can carry around 10 people.

(Mirror)