Five reported dead in plane crash

on 09/02/2013 12:47:22

Belgian media say that a small tourist plane has crashed near Brussels, killing five people, three of them children.

The website of the newspaper Le Soir says the plane had a problem on take-off, tried to return to the airport, but crashed beside the runway.

According to the news website sudinfo.be, the victims were a 68-year-old man, a 39-year-old mother, and three children aged seven, six and three. Le Soir said the victims are from Brussels.

The accident is reported to have taken place around 10am local time today.

The airport has been closed until mid-afternoon, and flights are being diverted.

Charleroi is about 40 miles south of Brussels.