Military plane crashes near Seville airport

The Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy has said that up to 10 crew members have been killed after a brand new Airbus A400M aircraft that was undergoing flight trials at Seville's airport crashed.

Spain's airport authority AENA confirmed that Seville airport has been closed Saturday because its fire crews have gone to attend a plane crash outside its perimeter fence.

All flights to Seville are being diverted to Malaga and Jerez airports, AENA says.

An industrial estate near where the Airbus came down in the suburb of Carmona has lost electrical power as a result of the crash, AENA says.

Photographs published on Spanish newspaper El Pais' website showed fire services extinguishing the fire at the smoking wreckage in a ploughed field.

Spanish state television TVE broadcast footage showing a plume of black smoke rising into the sky. TVE said the pilots had communicated with the control tower, saying their plane was in difficulty.

The A400M is a large, propeller-driven transport aircraft that is being assembled in Seville. Some 194 examples have been ordered by eight countries — including Spain — seeking a replacement to its aging Hercules fleet.

Pictures from AirlLive.net show firefighters putting out flames on the plane's wreckage.

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