Private jet reportedly owned by British billionaire crashes into office block in Malta after veering off runway

A private jet reportedly belonging to the Tory grandee Lord Ashcroft crashed into a block of offices in Malta last night after it was reportedly blown across a runway by strong winds.

According to local media reports, the aircraft veered into offices belonging to the Polidano Group, a construction company with offices located close to Malta International Airport.

Pictures uploaded onto social media show the cockpit of the plane protruding from the wall of the building, after it was seen moving off the runway and down a slope.

It is thought that strong winds on the runway may have dislodged the wheel chock holding the aircraft in place.

Last night officers from Malta police and members of the Armed Forces were seen attending to the incident, while roads were closed to oncoming traffic.

The plane, a Dassault Falcon 7X (VP-BZE) is understood to be registered in Bermuda in Lord Ashcroft's name.

Listed as one of Britain's wealthiest billionaires, he is a high-profile political donor and the former deputy chairman of the Conservative Party.

While Lord Ashcroft has not issued a formal statement on the incident, when asked on Twitter last night if the aircraft belonged to him, he responded: “Nooooooo…” - The Telegraph