Five people have been killed in a plane crash in Malta

Smoke billows into the sky after a light plane crashed soon after takeoff from Malta airport, in Valletta.
Story highlights
 "Everyone was screaming," says a witness who watched from a nearby flight
 Five French nationals were killed in the crash
(CNN)A light aircraft on a French customs surveillance operation crashed in Malta shortly after takeoff Monday, killing all five people on board.

Passengers on a nearby flight waiting to depart watched in horror as flames shot out and a dark plume of smoke billowed from the wreckage, witness Ben Cundall told CNN.
"Everyone was screaming," he said. "The flames were the length of an aircraft, so it was clear to everyone what had happened straight away."
Ben Cundall says he could see the burning wreckage of the plane as he waited on a nearby flight.
Ben Cundall says he could see the burning wreckage of the plane as he waited on a nearby flight.
The Fairchild Metroliner, which was taking part in an operation to track illicit human and drug trafficking routes, crashed at 7:20 a.m. (1:20 a.m. ET) Monday, officials said.
Officials: No explosion before crash