Six fatalities in Cork plane crash

SIX fatalities at Cork airport as Belfast plane crash landed during fog Thursday morning.

Manx2 airline's turboprop aircraft smashed into the ground next to runway 17 on its third attempt and flipped over on its roof, busting into flames.

The cockpit and front half of the Metroliner SW4 aircraft were destroyed on impact and early indications suggest that's where the fatalities occurred.

Airport fire tenders rapidly extinguished the fire engulfing the airframe's engines and spared trapped passengers further injury.

Six passengers have been ferried by ambulance to Cork University hospital, four with severe but non life threatening injuries. Two passengers seated to the rear of the aircraft walked away from the fatal crash with soft tissue injuries only.

The scheduled service, flight NM7100, departed George Best Belfast City airport at 8.10am and was due to land at 9am.

The 19 seater aircraft circled the airport for 45 minutes and crashed on its third attempt to land during poor visibility.

Flightline BCN, a Spanish company, operated the service on behalf of Manx2 whose primary hub is located at the Isle of Man's Ronaldsway airport.

The Irish Department of Transport's air accident investigation branch has launched an inquiry into the circumstances of this morning's crash.

Cork Airport flight chaos following fatal plane crash

Cork Airport remains closed until 18.00hrs with all inbound flights diverted to Shannon.