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This shocking dashcam footage is thought to show the moment a plane crashed shortly after taking off in Malta.

A plane crashed at Luqa airport shortly after taking off this morning.

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

Footage taken by local resident Laurent Azzopardi and posted on Facebook is believed to show the moment the plane came down.

Writing on Facebook, Laurent said: "On my way to work this morning - a very shocking experience , a plane crash (very close)."

Footage - which has been broadcast on local media sites - shows the plane rising in the air before seeming to lose power and crash towards the ground.

(Image: Laurent Azzopardi) (Image: Laurent Azzopardi) (Image: Laurent Azzopardi)

The wreckage is then engulfed by an enormous fireball. It has now been confirmed that five French customs officials were killed in the crash.

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

(Image: Ed De Gaetano) (Image: Ed De Gaetano)

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.

Sources now say those killed were French and it is not known if the plane was civilian or military.

A local hospital has been placed in major incident mode.

An eyewitness told the Times of Malta the the plane crashed "maybe 10 metres" from him.

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"I heard the scream of a plane, and then saw it come crashing down," he said. "It burst into flames immediately. Very little of the plane was left, just some debris."

Part of the burning wreckage has ended up on a road outside the perimeter of the airport. The plane was on its way to Misurata, Libya.

(Image: Ed De Gaetano) (Image: Ed De Gaetano)

Actor Edward De Gaetano was on his way home back to London when he witnessed the aftermath of the crash.

"We were about to take off, moments before we did from our windows we could see a massive explosion - at first we had no idea what caused it," he said.

(Image: REUTERS)

"We quickly realised an aircraft carrier had crash landed. That is when everyone got a bit anxious."

He added: "Then there was a second explosion and I thought 'oh my god this is not just a fire'. We are all a bit stunned."

Mr De Gaetano said it was "definitely not a military plane" which had crashed - with flames from the explosion "engulfing" a nearby tree.

Before the crash he said everything seemed "very, very normal".

"I just hope they find out what caused the crash and if there are any survivors they are OK," he told the Press Association.

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.