Twelve people, mostly of whom were children, were killed Saturday when a light plane crashed in a residential area outside Manila's international airport, a city official said.

The six-seat Queen Air plane crashed behind an elementary school in suburban Paranaque, said the city's police chief, Senior superintendent Manuel Manuel.

Paranaque Mayor Florencio Bernabe confirmed that 12 bodies had been recovered.

"Most of the victims were children who were playing on the ground when the plane crashed," he said.

Bernabe could not say how many of the fatalities were from the plane and how many victims were people on the ground.

Bernabe said at least 50 houses burned in the fire triggered by the crash.

The aircraft appeared to have developed engine trouble shortly after takeoff at Ninoy Aquino International Airport, said Ramon Gutierrez, chief of the Civil Aviation Authority of the Philippines.

"The pilot called the tower and requested an emergency relanding but did not make it," he said.