Four occupants of a Grumman Goose amphibious aircraft are confirmed dead after the aircraft crashed on departure from Al Ain in the United Arab Emirates.

The aircraft had been bound for the Saudi Arabian capital Riyadh.

It came down at 20:07 on 27 February, just moments after becoming airborne, says the UAE's General Civil Aviation Authority.

"Shortly after lift-off the aircraft veered to the left and crashed," the GCAA states, adding that it came down on taxiway K.

"The aircraft was destroyed by the impact and subsequent fire."

Investigators have not confirmed the airframe involved but the Grumman Goose is a vintage aircraft whose design dates from the late 1930s.

Source: Flight International