12 people aboard crashed aircraft, IAA confirms

The Irish Aviation Authority has confirmed that there were 10 passengers and two crew on the Manx2 commuter flight that crashed at Cork Airport this morning.

There have been unconfirmed reports that of up to eight deaths at the scene.

The turbo prop aircraft travelling from Belfast crash-landed on a runway at Cork Airport on the third attempt to land.

The crash happened at 9.51am on runway 17.

Witnesses report hearing a loud bang, before the aircraft burst into flames.

It is understood debris from the wreckage has been scattered over a wide area across the runway.

The Irish Aviation Authority (IAA) confirmed the incident but said the number of fatalities or injured could not be stated at this stage.

A spokesman said Cork Airport has been shut.

"There has been a crash, a Manx 2 airline, commuter plane. The emergency services are on the scene," he said.

The plane was operating a service from George Best Belfast City Airport to Cork.

A spokesman for George Best Belfast City Airport said: "We can confirm that the Manx 2 aircraft was scheduled to leave Belfast City Airport en route to Cork, flight number NM 7100. It left here at 0812 this morning with 10 passengers and two crew on board.

"We understand there has been an incident at Cork Airport involving this aircraft.''