Updated: 17:19

A PLANE CARRYING 10 parachutists has crashed shortly after takeoff in southern Belgium, killing all the passengers on board, the local mayor said.

Belgian website RTL.be reports that firefighters were alerted at 3.39pm (2.39pm Irish-time) to the crash and found the Pilatus Porter aircraft in a field.

“The plane took off from Temploux aerodrome with 10 parachutists and probably a pilot on board and crashed around 10 minutes later in a field. All those on board are unfortunately dead. The toll is 10 or 11 victims,” the mayor of Fernelmont, Jean-Claude Nihoul, said.

He added it was “very difficult” to be more precise given the state of the aircraft which was “unrecognisable” after being “burned up”.

The small plane came down around 250 metres  from houses near the village of Marchovelette, 10 kilometres from the southern city of Namur, the mayor added.

“I just saw a plane lose its right wing in mid-flight and crash. I heard a massive ‘bang’ towards the south of Marchovelette. I didn’t see anyone escape with a parachute,” one witness told local television channel RTL.

On Twitter, the Belgian Prime Minister Elio Di Rupo said his “heartfelt thoughts go first and foremost to the victims, their families and their loved ones”.