The fly Montserrat plane at its crash site near the VC Bird International Airport in Antigua.

The fly Montserrat plane

ST JOHN’S, Antigua – Two people – including the pilot and a female passenger – have been confirmed dead following this afternoon’s Fly Montserrat plane crash at VC Bird International Airport.

The announcement came from police spokesman Sergeant William Holder who said two other passengers in a critical condition are currently being treated at Mount St John’s Medical Centre.

The nine-seater plane crashed shortly after take-off at around 4.16 pm.

The airport was initially closed to the public, but has since reopened. Residents are still being urged to stay away from the area to enable emergency services to carry out their work.

The deceased woman is believed to have been a British tourist holidaying with her husband.

The Fly Montserrat plane apparently lost altitude and plummeted into the end of the runway.

An eyewitness told OBSERVER Media he heard the aircraft’s engine rev before cutting out. He said he heard the impact and knew “something had to be wrong.”

In a separate incident, earlier alarm was sparked at the airport when a section of the roof at the arrival lounge collapsed. Thankfully, no one was inside the lounge at the time.