Malta

The rock arch featured in films and the popular Game of Thrones television series, and was also notorious for tourists' cliff-jumping into the clear blue waters below.

Maltese Prime Minister Joseph Muscat tweeted of the "heartbreaking" loss of one of Gozo's main tourist attractions.

Mr Muscat said in a tweet that the famous Mediterranean landmark had always faced destruction because of natural corrosion.

"That sad day has arrived," he wrote.

The light aircraft was setting off on a mission over the Mediterranean around 07:20 (05:20 GMT) when it nose-dived and disintegrated in a ball of flames.

There was no explosion prior to the crash, according to eyewitnesses.

Malta said the flight had been part of a French operation to track illicit trafficking of people and drugs.

An investigation into the causes of the crash is to be conducted by the French defence ministry.

The airport has re-opened with some disruption expected to the day's scheduled flights.