A reconnaissance plane working for France’s defence ministry crashed in a ball of flames at Malta’s international airport yesterday, killing all five people on board, officials said
Forensic experts work on the site of a small plane crash at Malta International Airport on Monday. Pic/AFP
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Malta: A reconnaissance plane working for France’s defence ministry crashed in a ball of flames at Malta’s international airport yesterday, killing all five people on board, officials said.
The plane heading to Libya’s coast to monitor migrant trafficking routes for the French government crashed soon after takeoff, killing the five French nationals on board.
Libya is the main point of departure for the thousands of migrants who have been paying smugglers to bring them toward Europe by boat.
The Maltese government said in a statement that there was no indication of an explosion prior to the crash but did not rule out sabotage, saying a probe was on into possible causes. The French defence ministry said the plane had been working on its behalf, carrying out “reconnaissance missions in the Mediterranean”.
Three of those who died were employees of the defence ministry, the others worked for the company which flew the plane, the ministry said.
The Maltese government, which had described those on board as working for a French “customs” operation, said the aircraft was a Fairchild Metroliner Mark III registered in the US and leased to a Luxembourg company, CAE aviation.
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