A tragic incident unfolded in Burkina Faso's eastern region as a private aircraft, carrying seven individuals, crashed into a tree on Wednesday during an unsuccessful takeoff attempt.

The crash resulted in the loss of five lives and left two others injured, according to authorities.

The ill-fated flight was departing from a local airport in the city of Diapaga en route to Fada N'Gourma when it veered off course and collided with a tree, as reported by Burkina Faso's government news agency, Agence d'Information du Burkina.

Emergency responders swiftly transported the injured individuals to a nearby health facility, while authorities initiated an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the crash, as stated by Burkina Faso's Transportation Ministry in a formal statement.

Photographs released by the government news agency depicted charred remnants of the aircraft strewn across the crash site, with onlookers gathering in the aftermath.

At present, the reason behind the failed takeoff remains unclear.

The Diapaga-Fada N'Gourma route has posed challenges in recent years due to the ongoing security crisis in the region and other parts of Burkina Faso. With approximately half of the nation beyond government control and enduring attacks from jihadist groups, travel routes have become increasingly hazardous.