Crashed at Cork Airport.

The turbo prop aircraft with 10 passengers and two crew was travelling from Belfast City Airport. It crash-landed on a runway at Cork on the third attempt to land.

A Cork County Council spokesman said six people had been confirmed dead and six more had been taken to Cork University Hospital, however an airport worker who declined to be named said staff there had been told eight people had died.

The Irish Aviation Authority (IAA) said the crash happened at 9.51am. “It had been trying to land in foggy conditions. This was its third attempt to land,” an IAA spokeswoman said. It is understood debris from the wreckage was scattered over a wide area across the taxiway to the runway.

The IAA said the plane was a Manx 2 service. 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.

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.”

Fire crews and Gardai from across the county were drafted in to support the rescue efforts. The main road to the airport was closed to give emergency services quick access.

Manx2.com was founded in the Isle of Man and carries 100,000 passengers a year. It has set up a helpline in Belfast for people concerned about loved ones on the flight – 02890 427004.

It announced last September that it was expanding its presence in Northern Ireland, choosing George Best Belfast City Airport as its first permanent base outside the Isle of Man and launching the twice-daily service from Belfast to Cork. It has set up a helpline for people concerned about loved ones on the flight – 04890 427004 (correct from Dublin).

“Flight Avia No FLT400C a metroliner SW4 with ten passengers and two crew has crashed at Cork Airport. No details of injuries or fatalities are available. The aircraft made an approach to Runway 17 in low vis conditions (Category 2) and went around and did not land and attempted a second landing on Runway 35. The aircraft then went around a second time and came back for an approach to Runway 17. On the second approach to Runway 17 the aircraft crashed adjacent to Taxiway C. Rescue and Fire crew are in attendance. There is a fire and debris has been scattered onto the runway and over a wide area. The accident will be investigated by the Air Accident Unit of the Dept. of Transport.”