Military Plane Crashes Near Seville Airport, Killing Four

Four people have been killed in a military plane crash near Seville airport in Spain.

The plane, a new Airbus A400M, reportedly developed a fault just after take-off on a test flight.

Local media say that those on board were Spanish Airbus employees. Two have also been seriously injured.

Spain’s Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy has expressed his sorrow over the incident, which took place about 1.6km (1 mile) away from San Pablo airport.

Local media say that the plane had signalled that there was a fault with its systems just before the crash.

The plane reportedly hit an electric power line as the pilots tried to make an emergency landing.

The survivors have been taken to hospital by helicopter.

Mr Rajoy said the government was ready to support the families of all of those involved in the accident.

The Airbus A400M plane model is not yet used by the Spanish military. It is a large transport aircraft that has been ordered by eight countries including Spain to replace a fleet of ageing Hercules aircraft.

Airbus has said that the plane that crashed had been ordered by Turkey.

Local media report that the Spanish government has also agreed to buy 27 of the planes, with the first one due to be delivered to the military next year.