Could you inform me, sir, just to whom I could send my condolences for the loss of those unfortunate Frenchmen who lost their lives in Malta? I know them not nor do I know their families nor what their mission was. Please advise me.
It was a US RC-26B leased to the French. Good Intel Surveillance and Reconnaissance platform that rivals a King Air for ISR capabilities. W&B isn't a big problem in the RC-26B. But if the critical engine failed before V1 and the pilot continued TO below Vmc, the plane would roll over toward the right as seen in the dashcam video. Runways at Malta are 8,000 and 11,600'. Both plenty long to abort TO at V1. Engine failure is speculation at this point.
Since the planes duty was surveillance I'm thinking weight and balance might of been the cause. An engine out might of thrown parameters too far out to recover. He appeared to have plenty of speed but since the plane wasn't recovering it figures the wings were stalled. Not much time for correct corrective actions when low and slow over weight with prop's set to max thrust then one engine fails making lots of drag while the other pulls hard into the dragging side. Not good.
First thing I'd do is evaluate weight and location they went airborne plus what the tower observed.
Five French military officials dead in aircraft crash outside Malta runway
Military turboprop aircraft crashed outside the Malta airport runway shortly after take-off at 7:30am • No survivors reported among five French military officials en route to Libya.
Crash at Malta Airport Kills Five, Covers Runway in Large Fireball
Five Killed in Fiery Aircraft Crash 0:35 Five people died after their plane crashed during takeoff from the Mediterranean archipelago of Malta early Monday, officials said. A fireball belched black smoke from the runway of Malta International Airport and all departures and arrivals were cancelled until further notice.