More than 10 people on board a plane carrying a group of parachutists died on Saturday, when the aircraft plunged into a field in Belgium shortly after takeoff.
The Pilatus Porter transport aircraft went down after 3:45 p.m. local time, just 10 minutes after embarking from Temploux airfield in the Namur area of the southern area of the country.
Mayor of Fernelmont Jean-Claude Nihoul told local media outlet RTL that there were "at least 10 passengers on board, and probably one pilot."
"I've just seen a twin-engine plane lose it's wing mid-flight and crash with a massive bang," one witness told RTL. "I didn't see anyone parachute out."
Nihoul reported that the parachutists on board were being transported to a jumping location, but "crashed around 10 minutes after takeoff."
No citizens on the ground were injured after the crash, which occurred in a field not far from the village of Marchovelette. According to the Daily Mail, there were no survivors from the accident.
Prime Minister Elio De Rupio confirmed the news shortly after the fatal collision occurred, and said the families of the deceased were in his thoughts.
"Plane crash near Namur: my heartfelt thoughts go first and foremost to the victims, their families and their loved ones," he wrote on Twitter.
According to local reports, the small plane couldn't gain enough height, causing it to slam into the Marchovelette field. Authorities are still unsure as to what caused the crash, but they've confirmed that an investigation on the event will follow.
