A plane carrying 10 parachutists crashed
shortly after takeoff in southern Belgium on
Saturday, killing all the passengers on board, the
local mayor said.
"The plane took off from Temploux aerodrome with
10 parachutists and probably a pilot on board and
crashed around 10 minutes later in a field. All those
on board are unfortunately dead. The toll is 10 or
11 victims," the mayor of Fernelmont, Jean-Claude
Nihoul, told AFP.
He added it was "very difficult" to be more precise
given the state of the aircraft which was
"unrecognisable" after being "burned up".
The small plane came down around 250m from
houses near the village of Marchovelette, 10km
from the southern city of Namur, the mayor added.
"I just saw a plane lose its right wing in mid-flight
and crash. I heard a massive 'bang' towards the
south of Marchovelette. I didn't see anyone escape
with a parachute," one witness told local television
channel RTL.
Sent from my BlackBerry wireless device from MTN