EU staff 'not involved' in Malta plane crash - agency

Published Oct 24, 2016

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Moscow - No staff of the European border and coast guard agency Frontex were "involved" in a deadly military transport aircraft crash in southern Malta, Frontex said Monday.

"No Frontex staff was involved in the plane crash in Malta," it said in a Twitter post after saying the aircraft "was not deployed" by it.

The Metroliner twin turboprop aircraft, claimed to be leased from Luxembourg for use by Frontex officials, crashed in the village Luqa shortly after takeoff at 05:20 GMT, The Times of Malta reported earlier in the day, citing sources.

The military transport aircraft was said to be headed to Misrata, Libya, when witnesses told the newspaper it tipped on to its right side "and went straight down into the ground."

Emergency services have been deployed and hospital staff have been put on alert as flights to and from Malta International Airport have been halted until further notice.

* Reuters reports that all five victims of the crash were French, quoting a military source at the airport.

Sputnik

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