Plane crashes In Sharjah UAE

An aircraft, believed to be a cargo plane, crashed on take-off from Sharjah Airport. Casualties cannot be confirmed at the moment.

"It was a Sudan airlines carrying 6 people, it happened while taking off from Sharjah Airport at 3.50pm. I was near the accident site. Suddenly the plane burst into flames; it's even difficult for rescue officials to reach the crash area," said Shinas, a reader.

Audio: Eyewitness describes the plane struggling to gain altitude
Audio: Ali Al Midfaa' from Sharjah Airport explains why the runway was closed

"We work just right across from where the cargo plane crashed. We are accustomed to seeing planes taking off and landing but this one caught our attention as there seemed to be something wrong with it when it took off," Nagesh Vallabhan, an employee in a company at Sharjah Airport Free Zone, said.

"It was obvious the plane was about to crash and it did. The plane was tilted to the right - it looked like it was unbalanced and about to crash and in a few minutes it crashed to the ground and exploded. We saw flames of fire and smoke … it exploded with debris seen around the area of the crash. I am not sure but I don’t think anyone survived the crash. I honestly doubt it,” he added.

Another reader, Penny, called to say her husband witnessed the plane crash in Sharjah. The plan was meant to be taking off, but it suddenly flipped and then burst into flames, she said.