An aircraft operated by Noar Linhas Aereas has crashed outside the Brazilian city of Recife with the loss of 16 lives.

Bound for Natal, the capital and main city of Rio Grande do Norte in north-eastern Brazil, the plane came down within ten minutes of take off.

Fire-fighters were quickly on the scene, reported local officials, with a blaze quickly brought under control.

The twin-engine L410 aircraft had attempted an emergency landing on a beach outside Recife.

However, this was unsuccessful with the planning crash landing on wasteland between two Recife neighbourhoods - Piedade and Boa Viagem.

Caruaru, Brazil-based Noar Airlines has been operating for just one year, offering short flights in north-east Brazil.

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