A Kish Airlines flight crashed near Sharjah International Airport at 11.40am this morning, killing 43 of 46 people aboard the aircraft.

The twin-engined Fokker 50 aircraft, flight IRK 1770, crashed 3km from the airport complex at the Sharjah-Ajman border.

"The aircraft came down in Al Ramaqiah between two residential areas, initially crashing on a road before coming to rest in an uninhabited area," stated Dr Ghanem Al Hajri, director general, Sharjah Civil Aviation Authority.

The scheduled flight was coming from Kish Island, and was on a 'visa change' run, he added.Thirty-eight were confirmed dead at the site, while two succumbed subsequently to their injuries at hospital. There were three survivors, while three others were still missing in the wreckage, he said.

With rescue officials quickly on the scene, the casualties were evacuated to the nearby Al Qasimi Hospital. "The crash did not cause any injuries on the ground," Dr Al Hajri clarified.Kish Airlines officials declined comment. It is understood the top officials from the airline were out of station.

Airport sources added passengers aboard the aircraft included different nationalities, with Indians and Filipinos making up the maximum numbers. They added UAE Civil Aviation authorities are investigating the cause of the crash.

Eyewitnesses who happened to be watching the aircraft coming in to land stated it appeared to be in difficulty and almost crashed into a villa before the pilot managed to nurse the visibly struggling aircraft a few metres further before it crashed onto the road.

"It was a miracle there were no injuries on the ground," said a housewife, who saw the plane flash by through her window before crashing into a ball of fire.