Daily Times

VALLETTA: French reconnaissance plane crashed at Malta’s international airport on Monday, officials said.

The plane plummeted into the ground shortly after take-off, killing the five French nationals on-board. 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 an investigation was under way into possible causes.

France’s Defence Ministry said that 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 two others worked for the company which flew the plane, the ministry said.

The Maltese government described the victims as working for French ‘customs’ operation. The remains of all five victims had been recovered and an investigation had begun, it added.

“Official information, footage and eyewitnesses – including three members of Malta’s armed forces and two commercial airline pilots – clearly indicate that there was no explosion prior to impact,” the statement said.